COMPOSERS: Shelly Manne & His Men
LABELS: Contemporary
PERFORMER: Stu Williamson (t), Charlie Mariano (as), Russ Freeman (p), Monty Budwig (b), Shelly Manne (d)
CATALOGUE NO: OJCCD 1007-2 (Distr. New Note)
During the Fifties, Manne led a series of groups on the West Coast who were all but overlooked by the East Coast opinion formers. Consequently his role as an innovative and inquisitive bandleader has been given short shrift in jazz histories, but with albums such as this, with an extended suite for a small group, his contribution to jazz needs drastic revision. SN