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Shelly Manne & His Men: Yesterdays: Live In Europe

By David Rickert
October 15, 2003
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Shelly Manne & His Men: Yesterdays: Live In Europe

Shelly Manne’s Blackhawk recordings are the standard by which all other West Coast jazz projects are judged; they even earned the coveted coronet in the Penguin Guide. What a treat it is, then, that these live recordings from a year later have resurfaced. Norman Granz invited Manne to tour Europe with the JATP with virtually the same group (Russ Freeman substitutes for Victor Feldman in the piano chair.)

As befits a concert intended for the masses, the quintet plays a fairly basic club set, sticking to a conventional program of a blues, a ballad, and a handful of standards. Fortunately, the group plays so well that they easily rise above the unadventurous material. Richie Kamuca and Joe Gordon were both talented hornmen capable of infusing “Poinciana” with a little swagger and finding new avenues in “Straight, No Chaser.” Manne sizzles from behind, content to let the rest of his band handle the chores.

Unfortunately the recording, like too many other live efforts, is hindered by poor mike placement; Freeman comes through at barely above a whisper and Budwig is largely inaudible. Nevertheless, Yesterdays is a prime example of jazz as entertainment, played by proficient artists with taste and panache.

Track Listing

1. Cabu 2. Bag's Groove 3. Poinciana 4. Straight, No Chaser 5. Yesterdays.

Personnel

Shelly Manne & His Men

Shelley Manne-drums; Richie Kamuca-tenor sax; Joe Gordon-trumpet; Russ Freeman-piano; Monty Budwig-bass.

Album information

Title: Yesterdays: Live In Europe | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Fantasy Jazz

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