Teasing the Korean

I have accumulated quite a number of Herbie Mann LPs over the years, all for a buck or two, many of which were liberated from the dollar bin at Stereo Jack's. I am drawn to these albums less for the flute playing but rather for the tune selections, arrangements, and overall aesthetics of the albums. My favorites all date from the 1950s through roughly the late 60s. I have (or had) several of his 70s albums, but I never feel compelled to return to these. Here are some of my favorites: Machito with Flute to Boot - Roulette: Afro-Cuban jazz. Johnny Rae plays Herbie Mann's African Suite - UA: Amazing cover art with exotica content on side 1; Later reissued by Solid State under Mann's name with hideous cover art. Hi Flutin', with Buddy Collette - Premier: Straight-ahead jazz. In stereo, Buddy is in one speaker, Herbie in the other, and the rhythm section is dead center. Do the Bossa Nova - Atlantic: Self-explanetory. Brazil, Bossa Nova, & Blues - UA: Self-explanetory. Impressions of the Middle East- Atlantic: Arrangements by Arif Mardin. An insanely hep album that works equally well for active listening or groovy background music at a party. I posted one of the money cuts on the previous page. Wailing Dervishes - Atlantic: A companion album to the aforementioned, recorded live, with similar instrumentation. Perhaps recognizing the perpetual presence of his albums in the dollar bin?

Thanks for sharing!

It is interesting in retrospect that for those final few Capitol albums, Sinatra didn't knock out a piano session with Suntan Charlie, or a jazzy session with Red Norvo. Also interesting that they never paired Sinatra with George Shearing.

Thanks all. Is this Camarata guy related to the conductor?

"While the Music Plays On," especially Tony Bennett's version from his early album "Cloud 7." Does "Harlem Nocturne" have lyrics?

Yes! David Lynch! The transition at the one-minute mark never fails to terrify me. It's like you've been drugged and you're waking up hours later. You have to experience it in context, though.

Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg must have some tunes in this genre.

This is perfect. I have heard this. I have somebody doing this but I can't remember who. ----------- 'Tis Autumn

Thanks. These are the kinds of tunes I'm really trying to uncover, B-list songs like "Lonelyville" and "Detour Ahead" that you can imagine being sung by a husky-voiced, down-on-her-luck female singer in a dive bar. I don't think I know "Rules of the Road," but that title is promising. A sub-category that kind of fits with this aesthetic is gambling songs like "I'm Shooting High" and "Who's Got the Action."

Hi Larry, Have you ever crossed paths with any of the following: Johnny Frigo Dick Marx Jerome Slosberg Ken Nordine Dick Schory David Carroll Mike Simpson Thanks in advance, TTK

OK, 25 is a little high, maybe more like 18 or 20 for me. Completely agree with your assessment of the space Stordahl may have musically occupied with Sinatra in the 1950s. I suppose we are fortunate to have that one album, considering that Stordahl was dying of cancer and Frank had all but tossed in the towel on his Capitol sessions by that point. Years ago, in another thread, you'd asked about the arranger behind Peggy Lee's TV performance of "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads." I indicated that it was Stordhal, and that he basically used that same arrangement on his 1960 instrumental "Jasmine and Jade" LP on Dot. That is a gorgeous album, and it has since been posted on YouTube. "Baubles" comes in at around the 2:38 mark.

We all have our preferences. Spinning this album yesterday reminded me of why it has been collecting dust for so long. Between Capitol and Reprise, there are probably 25 Sinatra albums I will reach for before "Nice n Easy." It is a good album for what it is, but it just doesn't do it for me.

File under: Things you never expected to stumble across on the InterWebz.

I get what the concept is, but the concept was watered down with the title track. Nelson's arrangements are fine but IMO not even close to his work on "Swingin' Affair" or "Wee Small Hours."

Yeah, everything on YouTube that I've seen dates from jazz's depressing muttonchop sideburns/chest hair period.

We spun "The Drum Suite" this weekend while cooking dinner, and it is absolutely fantastic! Great arrangements, all delivered with that air of elegance and urbanity which define the best jazz of that era. My copy is mono. I wonder if I am missing any crucial percussion interplay that is more readily apparent in stereo.

You're welcome! Either have I! We bought the first volume of the Playboy DVDs. This was on volume 2, which quickly went out of print. What a wonderful era, when jazz was presented style, elegance, and sophistication!

This was one of six or seven Sinatra albums my Dad owned. For some reason, I spun this less than the others, and as a result, I'm less familiar with it. There are a few reasons: First, the cover art always looked cheap, especially coming from a label known for its gorgeous cover art. Second, I was somewhat put off by the cutesy title tune. (Sammy Cahn runs hot and cold for me; I am happy to discuss in a separate post if anyone cares.) And third, I found out later that this was one of the final four Capitol albums, all recorded after Reprise was established or at least in motion. So yesterday, I listened to "Nice n Easy" for the first time in probably decades, skipping the title track, forgetting the lousy cover art, and attempting to receive it as the concept album it was originally meant to be. It was interesting to hear a Sinatra album of all ballads celebrating love rather than mourning its loss. "Close to You" is the only other Capitol album in this category, and even that contains a few tunes with a love lost theme. Sinatra seems to be in good voice here. Nelson, on the other hand, feels like he is collecting a paycheck. Nothing wrong with his arrangements, but they are not really inspired either. Lots of footballs in the string and woodwind charts. The few times the arranging caught my attention, he seemed to be referencing a previous arrangement in a less effective manner. The best tracks for me are "That Old Feeling," "Fools Rush In," "She's Funny That Way," and "Mam'selle." Overall, I would say that this is a good album, but lacking the electricity and excitement of his best albums. If I had an hour to kill in a bar and this was playing, I would be grateful, but I probably wouldn't reach for it at home. Where would I rank it among Frank's vast catalog? Middle of the pack. And among Frank's Capitol albums? When you eliminate the comps, the musicals, and the Christmas album, there are 15 Capitol albums. I would easily place this in the bottom third. That ranking says less about this album's liabilities than the others' strengths. Finally, I will add that among those last four Capitol albums, my favorite by far is "Point of No Return," with Axel Stordahl, although all four albums have their peaks. But I think Frank's energies at that point were directed to his early Reprise albums.

Thanks. So when you talk about the overlap, are Don and Curtis playing together on the same tunes, or are some tunes by one and some by the other? Who is Toots Camarata? Any relation to the conductor?

Does anyone know anything about this LP? I can't find it on the InterTubes. DS510022

"Something Cool."

Cal Tjader on "Playboy's Penthouse," with Mongo and Willie. They do "Cubano Chant," "Poinciana," and "Doxy." I've never seen any Cal Tjader footage from this period before!

"The Nervous Set," a short-lived Broadway show about the Beat Generation. I think there was a cast album. (I never heard it.) Yes!

When the World was Young - more the verses than the chorus.

"You Go to My Head" comes close, for alcohol content.