Shelly Manne, Bill Russo - Deep People (1955) [Reissue 1992] (Repost)

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Shelly Manne, Bill Russo - Deep People (1955) [Reissue 1992] (Repost)

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Shelly Manne made a countless number of records from the 1940s into the '80s but is best-known as a good-humored bandleader who never hogged the spotlight. Originally a saxophonist, Manne switched to drums when he was 18 and started working almost immediately. He was with Joe Marsala's band (making his recording debut in 1941), played briefly in the big bands of Will Bradley, Raymond Scott, and Les Brown and was on drums for Coleman Hawkins's classic "The Man I Love" session of late 1943. Manne worked on and off with Stan Kenton during 1946-1952, also touring with Jazz at the Philharmonic (1948-1949), and gigging with Woody Herman (1949). After leaving Kenton, Manne moved to Los Angeles where he became the most in-demand of all jazz drummers. He began recording as a leader (his first session was cut in Chicago in 1951) on a regular basis starting in 1953 when he first put together the quintet Shelly Manne & His Men. Among the sidemen who were in his band during their long string of Contemporary recordings (1955-1962) were Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, Joe Gordan, Bob Enevoldsen, Joe Maini, Charlie Mariano, Herb Geller, Bill Holman, Jimmy Giuffre, Richie Kamuca, Victor Feldman, Russ Freeman, Ralph Pena, Leroy Vinnegar, and Monty Budwig. Manne, who had the good fortune to be the leader of a date by the André Previn Trio that resulted in a major seller (jazz versions of tunes from My Fair Lady), always had an open musical mind and he recorded some fairly free pieces on The Three and the Two (trios with Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Giuffre that did not have a piano or bass, along with duets with Russ Freeman), and enjoyed playing on an early session with Ornette Coleman. In addition to his jazz work, Manne appeared on many film soundtracks and even acted in The Man with the Golden Arm. He ran the popular club Shelly's Manne-Hole during 1960-1974, kept his music open to freer sounds (featuring trumpeter Gary Barone and tenor saxophonist John Gross during 1969-1972), played with the L.A. Four in the mid-'70s, and was very active up until his death. Throughout his career Shelly Manne recorded as a leader for Savoy, Interlude, Contemporary, Jazz Groove, Impulse, Verve, Capitol, Atlantic, Concord, Mainstream, Flying Dutchman, Discovery, Galaxy, Pausa, Trend, and Jazziz, in addition to a few Japanese labels.

William Joseph Russo Jnr., 25 June 1928, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 11 January 2003, Chicago, Illinois, USA. After extensive studies in arranging, Russo wrote for Lennie Tristano and also occasionally played trombone. One of the earliest musicians to lead a rehearsal band (Experiment In Jazz), his experimental style came to the attention of Stan Kenton in the early 50s. His work with Kenton including such striking charts as ‘Hall Of Brass’, ‘Portrait Of A Count’, and ‘Improvisation’. In the mid-50s, Russo concentrated on performing with a small group but by the end of the decade was again deeply involved in writing for larger jazz ensembles. During the early 60s, Russo lived in London where he worked for the BBC and formed the London Jazz Orchestra. He returned to Chicago to become director of the Center for New Music at Columbia College, a position he held until the middle of the next decade. After spending some time in film and television work in California, he returned to teaching in the 80s. Russo will be remembered as one of the most important composers and arrangers for the large modern jazz orchestra.