Without a doubt, one of the most recorded drummers in jazz has to be Shelly Manne, who was the epitome of the California West Coast sound of jazz in the 1950s. His trio and small band albums from this period are legendary (and we won’t even get into his trio session with Sonny Rollins), and this double disc collection of concerts from 1958 and ’66 respectively show how creative and accessible jazz was when in the hands of the best of the best studio musicians.
The 1958 concert takes place at the Monterrey Jazz Festival, with Manne teamed with Angelenos Monty Budwig/b, Russ Freeman/p, Herb Geller/as and Stu Williamson/tp. The centerpiece is an 18 minute “Quartet (Suite In Four Movements) that features Manne in a rare spotlight, teaming with Budwig in some clever arrangements, with Williamson getting in some warm soloing. Classic sounds bop lightly with Geller swooning on “Stop, Look and Listen” and the swinging is easy on “The Vamp’s Blues”. Fingerpopping!
The 1966 session keeps Budwig, but includes Hampton Hawes/p, Frank Stozier/as-fl, Conte Condoli/tp and special guest Ruth Price, pre-owning The Jazz Bakery. Price is a class act, out Connoring Chris Connor with a dash of Helen Merrill over Manne’s clippety clop on “Surrey With The Fringe on Top” and mixing sass and style on “Dearly Beloved”. Strozier and Condoli flex their chops on an upbeat “Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise”, and Strozier’s flute glides on “ Summertime” with Condoli hop, skipping and jumping for “Secret Love”. West Coast with breezy sunshine.