My Fair Lady - Shelly Manne

I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

Modern Performances Of Songs From My Fair Lady
Shelly Manne & His Friends
Shelly Manne (drums), Andre Previn (piano) and Leroy Vinnegar (bass)
Produced by Lester Koenig
Engineer and Technical Supervisor: Roy DuNamn
Cover Photo by Phil March
Design by Guidi/Tri-Arts
Andre Previn appear courtesy of Decca Records, Inc.
Vol. 2 Contemporary Records C35287
Recorded August 17, 1956 at Cotemporary's Studio in Los Angeles

From Billboard - July 21, 1956: Shelly Manne's "friends" on this record date were pianist Andre Previn and bassist Leroy Vinnegar. Previn's work is of most immediate interest, for it represents a great advance jazzwise over anything of his released to date. Not that he hasn't always had something of interest to say, but in the past too much of it was precious and unslinging. Here, however, he moves along dynamically from start to finish. Sample of exquisitely fingered line of "Stars Fell On Alabama," the variety of dance accents of "The Girl Friend" or the subtle percussive quality of "I Cover The Waterfront," with Manne and Vinegar giving unfailing brilliant support. This West Coast be a good traffic item for all dealers.

From the back cover:

Shelly Manne was born in New York City, June 11, 1920. He joined the union when he was 18, and his first job was with a band on ship plying between New York and Le Have. Between trips he spent much time in the clubs on 52nd Street and in Harlem, listening and learning. Before joining the Coast Guard for 3 1/2 years he played with leading big bands. Upon discharge he worked on 52nd Street again, then joined Stan Kenton for three tours of the U.S. In 1951 Shelly left Kenton to settle in California. He played for motion pictures, radio, TV and night clubs until 1952 when he joined Howard Ramsey's Lighthouse All-Stars. In 1954 he left the All-Stars to co-front a group with Shorty Rogers until the fall of '55 when he formed his own quintet, Shelly Manne & His Men. He is generally considered winner of Down Beat and Metronome popularity polls, and was Metronome "Musician Of The Year" for 1955.

Andre Previn was born in Berlin, Germany, April 6, 1929 and began his musical studies in Europe. He came to the U.S. in 1939 and continued studying in Los Angeles, first with the late Joseph Achron, and since 1944 with Casttelnuovo-Tedesco. He has been composing and conducting film scores at MGM since 1949 (except for two years 1950-51 spent in the Army), and is currently working on his 25th picture. He has been nominated three times for Academy Awards. He is a gifted classical, popular and jazz pianist, and has appeared on the concert stage and in night clubs with equal success. He became interested in jazz after hearing Art Tatum and realizing what could be done in jazz forms. His conviction jazz is "a very important and genuine American art form" was strengthen in the 1950s when he heard Bud Powell and the late Charlie Parker. He enjoys playing with Shelly Manne, and appeared on the first Friends album (C3525) with Shelly Manne in February 1956.

Leroy Vinnegar was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 13, 1928. He is a comparatively new name in jazz, yet critics and fans are beginning to recognize his extraordinary talent. He is a completely self-taught bass player who "just picked it up" as a teen-ager in Indianapolis. He had fooled around with the piano, but the first time he tired the bass he "discovered that was for me." He has been a professional musician since he was 20, first with local groups in Indianapolis, then for a year in Chicago. He came to Los Angeles in 1954, and his first "real gig" with Barney Kessel's Quartet at Jazz City led to his playing and recording with many of the best-known West Coast musicians. Since October 1955 he has been a regular member of Shelly Manne's group.

Lester Koenig
August 27, 1956

Get Me The The Church On Time
On The Street Where You Live
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
Wouldn't It Be Lovely
Ascot Gavotte
Show Me
With A Little Bit Of Luck
I Could Have Danced All Night