Shelly Manne "Steps to the desert"

[Roger Hiles]

Just posted on the Fantasy site:

SHELLY MANNE

Steps to The Desert

Contemporary CCD-7609-2 ~ $14.98 AVAILABLE 5/11

Hava Nagila (Come Let's Be Happy), Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; Yossel, Yossel; Zamar Nodad, Bokrei Lachish, Tzena, Exodus, Die Greene Koseene, My Yiddishe Momme, Orchah Bamidbar (Steps to the Desert), plus CD bonus tracks Zamar Nodad (single edit), Exodus (single edit), Tzena (single edit), Hava Nagila (single edit)

with Shorty Rogers, Teddy Edwards, Victor Feldman, Al Viola, Monty Budwig

Recorded December 17-20, 1962.

AKA: "My Son The Jazz Drummer!"-- I wonder why they changed the title?

[garthsj]

GOD! I hope that this is not some misguided attempt to be politically correct! The album is a good one, although not one of Shelly's best, and the Jewish theme is, of course, central to the whole concept. So why bother to change it? ... I am NOT paranoid enough to think that Fantasy are trying to promote a jazz album of traditional Jewish songs on the back of our current conflict in the Middle East!

Garth.

Edited April 10, 2004 by garthsj

[ghost of miles]

I actually have a soft spot for 1950s and 60s jazz concept albums, and this would make for an interesting pairing with Terry Gibbs' PLAYS JEWISH MELODIES IN JAZZTIME, or with some of the more present-day NYC klezmer projects.

Does seem unnecessary to change the title--maybe they thought the original was too whimsical?

[JSngry]

Maybe nobody remembers Alan Sherman anymore.

[Chuck Nessa]

Maybe nobody remembers Alan Sherman anymore.

Let alone Sam Levinson.

[Free For All]

Maybe nobody remembers Alan Sherman anymore.

He's a muddah. Or maybe a faddah.

[Larry Kart]

Interesting album. Teddy Edwards play the shit out of Hava Nagila, very soulful. Fun to compare his solo to Harold Land's on Jazz Impressions of Folk Music (on the Carmell Jones Mosaic Select). What are the odds that those two tenor players, closely related in several ways, would both find themselves playing on that tune?

[Brad]

Maybe nobody remembers Alan Sherman anymore.

He's a muddah. Or maybe a faddah.

Yes, but he's gone to Camp Hiawatha.

[GA Russell]

Wasn't Allen Sherman Camp Grenada?

[Roger Hiles]

I got out "Terry Gibbs Plays Jewish Melodies in Jazztime" to give it a listen.

I was suprised to find it was recorded January 11-12, 1963-- just 3 weeks after Manne's album.

As far as I know, these were the first "jazz does Jewish folk" albums recorded (and the only ones for years). Does anyone know if there was some connection between the sessions?

[Pete C]

Cannonball did a great job with "Fiddler on the Roof."