Shelly Manne Jazz Gunn

Shelly Manne scored big with a jazz version of the Peter Gunn soundtrack in the 50s - and he does it again in this 60s version of Henry Mancini's music for the full-length Gunn movie! The style here is a bit more far-reaching and looser than before - showing not just Manne's development as an artist, but also his ear for some of the best styles of the younger generation - as evidenced by his inclusion of Frank Strozier on alto and flute, and Mike Wofford on piano - alongside more familiar faces Monte Budwig on bass and Conte Candoli on trumpet.

Shelly Manne scored big with a jazz version of the Peter Gunn soundtrack in the 50s - and he does it again in this 60s version of Henry Mancini's music for the full-length Gunn movie! The style here is a bit more far-reaching and looser than before - showing not just Manne's development as an artist, but also his ear for some of the best styles of the younger generation - as evidenced by his inclusion of Frank Strozier on alto and flute, and Mike Wofford on piano - alongside more familiar faces Monte Budwig on bass and Conte Candoli on trumpet.

In a follow-up to their hit recording of music from My Fair Lady, Shelly Manne and his Friends (a trio with pianist André Previn, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and the drummer/leader) recorded nine songs from the play Li'l Abner. Although Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul wrote the score, none of the songs caught on except for the ballad "Namely You," and this LP was not a best-seller. The musicians are in fine form but the melodies are not too memorable (when was the last time anyone played "If I Had My Druthers" or "Progress Is the Root of All Evil"?).

In a follow-up to their hit recording of music from My Fair Lady, Shelly Manne and his Friends (a trio with pianist André Previn, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and the drummer/leader) recorded nine songs from the play Li'l Abner. Although Johnny Mercer and Gene DePaul wrote the score, none of the songs caught on except for the ballad "Namely You," and this LP was not a best-seller. The musicians are in fine form but the melodies are not too memorable (when was the last time anyone played "If I Had My Druthers" or "Progress Is the Root of All Evil"?).

Shelly Manne & His Men - West Coast Jazz In England (1960) {Solar Records 4569886 rel 2011}
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© 1960, 2011 Solar Records | 4569886
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz

Digitally remastered release that contains, for the first time ever on CD, a complete live performance in Manchester by the legendary Shelly Manne quintet with Joe Gordon and Richie Kamuca. This short lived group had produced the celebrated multi-volume albums at the Blackhawk, in San Francisco, the previous year (with Victor Feldman on piano instead of Russ Freeman), as well as celebrated recordings of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn music. The Manchester concert, which was only previously released on an extremely rare long out of print LP, showcases the quintet in high spirits, and offers a new opportunity to appreciate the talents of trumpeter Joe Gordon, who would die soon after.

Henry Mancini was so successful with his Music from Peter Gunn album that RCA-Victor brought him back into the studio for a second LP's worth of music from the Blake Edwards-produced program. The second Peter Gunn album didn't do as well as the first, but it is almost as strong musically. Notables on the sessions included drummer Shelly Manne, trumpet virtuoso Pete Candoli, and pianist (and future film music giant) John Williams. More Music from Peter Gun is about as strong as anything on Music from Peter Gunn: "Timothy" may have its weak moments of comic effect, but even it includes some diverting trumpet passages, and none of the rest needs any apology or explanation…