Manny Albam

[sgcim]

20 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

I talked about this with Randy once -- he's an old friend -- or rather he talked about it with me, and IIRC the problems with the CHJB were related to Jon Faddis' ego, Faddis being the leader of the band. There also might have been some static about what the band's repertoire should be.

Thanks! I vaguely remember something like that being involved. Maybe that's why he didn't want to mention it in print.

It's a shame, their repertoire was much more interesting than JALC's. Think of all the great Johnny Carisi, Al Cohn, Rod Leavitt, Geo. Russell, Kenyon Hopkins, Eddie Sauter, Jimmy Giuffre, Gary McFarland etc... charts that won't be heard again.

[Larry Kart]

Took the plunge tonight and listened to all of Manny Albam's 1957 four-movement magnum opus "The Blues Is Everybody's Business" (Coral). The writing for strings (movements two and three) gets a bit cinematic at times, but there are some things of interest here. First, a surprising amount of fine prominent bass work from Milt Hinton and Vinnie Burke, plus some luscious tuba from Don Butterfield. Second, the featured trumpet soloists are Nick Travis (he's heard at length, and this is the best Travis I know) and Art Farmer (Harmon muted throughout and in excellent form; his role is more or less to interact with and comment on Travis's part, and this he does with much sensitivity). Nice solos from Phil Woods, Gene Quill, and Bob Brookmeyer, a soulful concluding benediction from Al Cohn, and spectacular high-note work from Ernie Royal. Don Lamond is the crisp, cooking drummer. My copy is mono and in less than great shape, but one can still tell that in its original (stereo?) incarnation this was a recording of great presence and detail.

[Stereojack]

4 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

 My copy is mono and in less than great shape, but one can still tell that in its original (stereo?) incarnation this was a recording of great presence and detail.

It seems to have only been issued in mono, although many recordings from this period were recorded in stereo, even if they weren't released in that format. Here's Discog's page:         https://www.discogs.com/Manny-Albam-The-Blues-Is-Everybodys-Business/master/753347

[Teasing the Korean]

22 hours ago, Larry Kart said:

... The writing for strings (movements two and three) gets a bit cinematic at times, but there are some things of interest here. 

"Cinematic strings" would be a thing of interest for me. Or things of interest, if we consider the strings to be plural. 

I'm often puzzled when jazz listeners single out the one element that distinguishes a particular jazz album from being just another blowing session, but then again, we all have our quirks. 

[Larry Kart]

1 hour ago, Teasing the Korean said:

"Cinematic strings" would be a thing of interest for me. Or things of interest, if we consider the strings to be plural. 

I'm often puzzled when jazz listeners single out the one element that distinguishes a particular jazz album from being just another blowing session, but then again, we all have our quirks. 

It's not the presence of strings that make this album other than a "blowing session." It's a fully scored work of some length (maybe 40 minutes) for orchestra and soloists, with the latter functioning within the orchestral framework. I've got nothing against strings per se; it depends on how they're used.

[Teasing the Korean]

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.

[Teasing the Korean]

I am now spinning "Soul of the City." 

This is a killer concept album, an ode to the concrete jungle, dating from 1966, on the Solid State label. This is a white label promo, in mono. 

Stylistically, this is probably closer to early 60s. It is arranged for a large ensemble with strings. At various points, I am reminded of Lalo Schifrin, Quincy Jones, or Michel Legrand.

Lots of the New York regulars are here, including Hank Jones and Phil Woods.

This is an essential album for fans of private eye jazz or concept albums about the naked city. 

[Teasing the Korean]

Yesterday, Mrs. Korean and I had pesto for dinner. (I prepared the pesto, and I was particularly impressed by the garlic/parmesan ratios.) Serving time was right about the time that "Soul of the City" wrapped up. I asked Mrs. Korean if we should remain in a Manny Albam bag, and she enthusiastically replied, "Oh, yes, Daddy," as if she were a character in Skip Martin liner Notes. 

So, I played Manny's "West Side Story," on a mono Decca LP.

When I am in the mood for WSS music, I typically reach for either Lenny's 20-minute orchestral suite, which appeared on one side of a Columbia LP, or the Stan Kenton/Johnny Richards Capitol LP, the cover of which features Russ Tamblyn, who would go on to play Dr. Jacoby in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks."

So those two kind of overshadow Manny's album, which nevertheless features gorgeous arrangements. The confusingly credited ensemble indicates that this is scored for 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 3 saxes, and rhythm section. Soloists include Al Cohn, Nick Travis, Hank Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Costa, Jim Cleveland, Ernie Royal, among others.

When I was a kid, I took the "West Side Story" songs for granted. They were part of the postwar wallpaper. As I get older, I am increasingly in awe of this music. 

There is some leftover pesto, which I may enjoy later with one of Manny's RCA Stereo Action albums. 

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by Teasing the Korean

[felser]

4 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

When I was a kid, I took the "West Side Story" songs for granted. They were part of the postwar wallpaper. As I get older, I am increasingly in awe of this music. 

Same here, plus the pesto sounds great!   Russ Tamblyn's daughter Amber had a nice turn as the title character in Joan of Arcadia for its two seasons.  That is the last TV show I watched regularly.

[JSngry]

8 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

When I am in the mood for WSS music, I typically reach for either Lenny's 20-minute orchestral suite, which appeared on one side of a Columbia LP, or the Stan Kenton/Johnny Richards Capitol LP, the cover of which features Russ Tamblyn, who would go on to play Dr. Jacoby in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks."

So those two kind of overshadow Manny's album...

Albam's WSS record tops any other, imo. Not only is the writing great and the ensemble playing superb, it's so damn well recorded, three's air in the room an it lets every instrument blend perfectly....sort of a gestalt for those people doing that type of thing. I think the copy I listen to is some remastered Japanes thing, maybe, I don't know, I have the LP but don't play it. So maybe it cleaned up really well for digital. But DAMN is that a beautifully payed and recorded set of music.

That Richards/Kenton record is a clownshow, imo. I've done  a lot of "processing" of all things Kenton over the last 45+ years, and I still can't take that one seriously as anything but wrong in EVERY way.

[Teasing the Korean]

4 hours ago, JSngry said:

Albam's WSS record tops any other, imo. Not only is the writing great and the ensemble playing superb, it's so damn well recorded, three's air in the room an it lets every instrument blend perfectly....sort of a gestalt for those people doing that type of thing. I think the copy I listen to is some remastered Japanes thing, maybe, I don't know, I have the LP but don't play it. So maybe it cleaned up really well for digital. But DAMN is that a beautifully payed and recorded set of music.

That Richards/Kenton record is a clownshow, imo. I've done  a lot of "processing" of all things Kenton over the last 45+ years, and I still can't take that one seriously as anything but wrong in EVERY way.

Kenton/Richards has a space-age sparkle that I find irresistible, along with crime jazz content, particularly on the track "Cool." That plus Dr. Jacoby is on the cover. How cool is that?

Mrs. Korean approves of both the Kenton/Richards and Manny albums, and I implicitly trust her opinions on jazz. 

What do you think of that Manny album called "Soul of the City?" That is my favorite. 

4 hours ago, felser said:

Same here, plus the pesto sounds great!   Russ Tamblyn's daughter Amber had a nice turn as the title character in Joan of Arcadia for its two seasons.  That is the last TV show I watched regularly.

I will look for that! Possible spoiler alert, but Dr. Jacoby is batshit crazy in the recent third season of Twin Peaks!

Edited May 25, 2020 by Teasing the Korean

[Teasing the Korean]

"The sound your eyes can follow!"

This is how RCA marketed its gimmicky Stereo Action LP series, featuring different sections of the orchestra magically flying back and forth between speakers, and always changing positions relative to each other - as if this occurs in live settings. 

And so I spin one of Manny Albam's two entries in this series, "I Had the Craziest Dream," featuring standards about dreams. 

Soloists include the ubiquitous Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and Bob Brookmeyer. 

These arrangements are absolutely gorgeous, especially if you have mid-century modern decor. He uses three different ensembles, one of which includes strings, and all of which include rhythm, brass, winds, and harp.

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by Teasing the Korean

[JSngry]

I had the craziest dream that I was surrounded by a decidedly non-professional all-male chorus singing to me like I was in a deleted scene from Mr. Roberts.

Not the best dream I've eve had...

[Teasing the Korean]

"Twenty Tunes - Two at a Time" is the description on Manny's album "More Double Exposure," his second entry in the RCA Stereo Action series. (His first "Double Exposure" album was on the Top Rank label.)

Manny selects two songs with similar chord progressions and arranges them to play simultaneously, generally one in each speaker. 

It is gimmicky, and nowhere near as good as the aforementioned "Dream" album, but it has its moments, particularly "Stairway to the Stars - Do Nothing Till Ypu Hear From Me."

The tracks employing harp and strings are the best. 

The soloists are not credited.

Edited May 25, 2020 by Teasing the Korean

[sgcim]

Anyone hear the albums Albam made with O'Donel Levy, "Simba", and "Dawn of a New Day"? I used to see them in record stores when I was a kid, but I was a rabid member of the jazz police, and they looked too commercial for a proud officer such as myself. I heard some stuff by Levy after I retired from the 'force', and realized I made a big mistake.

[Teasing the Korean]

49 minutes ago, sgcim said:

Anyone hear the albums Albam made with O'Donel Levy, "Simba", and "Dawn of a New Day"? I used to see them in record stores when I was a kid, but I was a rabid member of the jazz police, and they looked too commercial for a proud officer such as myself. I heard some stuff by Levy after I retired from the 'force', and realized I made a big mistake.

Never heard of them. 

At least you got to retire from the jazz police. I had my membership revoked. 

[JSngry]

[Teasing the Korean]

23 hours ago, JSngry said:

That Richards/Kenton record is a clownshow, imo. I've done  a lot of "processing" of all things Kenton over the last 45+ years, and I still can't take that one seriously as anything but wrong in EVERY way.

In my many years of record shopping, I have learned that if an artist I don't particularly like has a massive catalog, they will often record one or two great albums accidentally, by the law of averages. 

Percy Faith's "Black Magic Woman" LP is a great example. 

[JSngry]

11 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

Percy Faith's "Black Magic Woman" LP is a great example. 

YES!

[sgcim]

20 hours ago, JSngry said:

When I was in the Jazz Police, NWA didn't even exist, and even if they did, that was not our jurisdiction. We only dealt with 'jazz pretenders'.

[JSngry]

Let's just say that NWA didn't invent the phrase.

[Teasing the Korean]

I was using the phrase "jazz police" in the early 1980s when I was enrolled in a highly regarded university jazz program that absolutely made me hate jazz. I left there and I couldn't listen to anything jazz related for several years. The Nat King Cole Trio were the gateway act that brought me back. 

[Late]

52 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

The Nat King Cole Trio were the gateway ...

Gateway indeed. First you're listening to Nat King Cole, and before you know it, you're listening to Cecil Taylor. As if we needed more proof that jazz is dangerous.

[Teasing the Korean]

Just now, Late said:

Gateway indeed. First you're listening to Nat King Cole, and before you know it, you're listening to Cecil Taylor. As if we needed more proof that jazz is dangerous.

I had "Unit Structures" in high school, along with some of his Arista Freedom albums! I used to play them in the dorm on high volume to annoy the jazz police! 

[Late]

4 minutes ago, Teasing the Korean said:

I had "Unit Structures" in high school, along with some of his Arista Freedom albums! I used to play them in the dorm on high volume to annoy the jazz police! 

Man, you were walking a thin line. The Jazz Police are sensitive souls. They don't dig Bösendorfers.