Herbie Mann - Complete Recordings: 1955-1957 (CD)

Herbie Mann - COMPLETE RECORDINGS: 1955-1957 - A true pioneer of his instrument - indeed his predecessors were few and far between - Herbie Mann was one of the first to take the flute into the mainstream jazz spotlight. Embracing elements of numerous genres throughout his long and decorated career, Mann was lauded for his intricate playing and impeccable sense of groove that would influence generations of flautists to follow. Born Herbert Jay Solomon in Brooklyn, New York on 16th April 1930, Mann became enamored with music at an early age, initially wishing to learn drums but eventually being convinced by a family member to take up clarinet instead. His parents, both of Eastern European descent, were dancers and singers before becoming vocal coaches later on in life. Mann attended Lincoln High School in Brighton Beach, and gave his first ever performance at a resort in the Catskills aged 15. After serving four years in the army including time stationed in Trieste, Italy, where he had played saxophone in the military band, Mann returned to the United States in 1952, only to find the Lester Young-derived style he had adopted now oversaturated the music scene. Fate was on Mann s side however, as he was soon approached by Dutch accordionist Mat Mathews, who was seeking a flautist to appear alongside him on the debut album of the then-unknown jazz vocalist Carmen McRae. These sessions would later be released as Carmen McRae (Bethlehem, 1954), and would enable Mann to distinguish himself as one of the first and most groundbreaking jazz flautists. In December of that year he would also appear on Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (EmArcy), an album that would go on to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It was soon after these collaborations that Herbie Mann began taking part in his first studio sessions as bandleader. These would initially be released as the 10 East Coast Jazz/4 (Bethlehem, 1954), and later as a full album with additional recordings as Herbie Mann Plays (Bethlehem, 1956). These sessions also saw the first collaboration of Mann with esteemed jazz guitarist Joe Puma, who would feature on nearly all of Mann s albums over the next four years. Whilst well known for his adoption of different styles as his career progressed, Herbie stayed firmly within the realms of cool jazz during this early period, a direction which received mixed reviews from critics at the time but did little to halt his rising popularity. His proper debut album, Flamingo (Bethlehem 1955) would appear the following year, along with an appearance on The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet (Bethlehem), a collaboration with one of his few flute contemporaries. Mann would also release two highly-regarded albums alongside Belgian flautist and tenor saxophonist Bobby Jaspar: Flute Flight and Flute Soufflé (both Prestige, 1957). This four disc collection contains, in their entirety, the recordings that would prove the crucial foundation for this magnificent musician s career. Remastered in excellent quality and featuring nearly five hours of sublime music, this set captures perfectly the striking ability of Herbie Mann during the earliest period of his recording career, and hints at the potential that, when realized, would go on to establish Mann as one of the finest purveyors of his instrument within the world of jazz.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
2. Love Is a Simple Thing
3. There's No You
4. Sorimao
5. The Influential Mr Cohn
6. A One Way Love
7. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top
8. Flamingo
9. Little Orphan Annie
10. Jasmin
11. Beverly
12. Woodchuck
13. Fascinating Rhythm
14. Why Do I Love You
15. It's Only Sunshine
16. Love Letters
17. Let's Get Away from It All
18. Flying Home
19. I'll Remember April
20. Empathy
21. It Might As Well Be Spring
22. Just One of Those Things
23. Seven Come Eleven

Disc: 2

1. Chicken Little
2. Cuban Love Song
3. The Things We Did Last Summer
4. Deep Night
5. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
6. After Work
7. Moon Dreams
8. A Spring Morning
9. Scuffles
10. The Purple Grotto
11. My Little Suede Shoes
12. Love and the Weather
13. But Beautiful
14. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
15. I'm Glad There Is You
16. A Sinner Kissed An Angel
17. High on a Windy Hill
18. Ill Wind
19. For Heaven's Sake
20. Autumn Nocturne
21. Moon Love
22. Morning Side of the Mountain
23. Like Someone in Love

Disc: 3

1. Yardbird Suite
2. Here's That Mann
3. One for Tubby
4. Squire's Parlor
5. Who Knew
6. Opicana
7. Herbie's Buddy
8. 8. Perdido
9. 9. Baubles, Bangles and Beads
10. 0. Give a Little Whistle
11. Here's Pete
12. Theme from 'Theme From'
13. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)
14. Morning After

Disc: 4

1. Tutti Flutie
2. Bo-Do
3. Flute Bass Blues
4. Flute Bob
5. Solacium
6. Tel Aviv
7. Somewhere Else
8. Let's March
9. Chasing the Bird