Early Mann - Herbie Mann

 

The Purple Grotto

Early Mann

The Bethlehem Years, Volume 1

Art Direction: Paula Bisacca

Cover Art: Yvonne Ortiz

Bethlehem Records BCP-6011

1976

Side One: Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Herbie Mann - Flute

Bennie Weeks Guitar

Lee Rockey - Drums

Side Two: Bands 4, 5

Herbie Mann - Flute

Charles Andrus - Bass

Joe Puma - Guitar

Harold Granowshy - Drums

Side Two: Bands 1, 3, 4

Herbie Mann - Flute

Charles Andrus - Bass

Joe Puma - Guitar

Harold Granowsky - Drums

Side Two: Band 2

Herbie Mann - Tenor Saxophone

Charles Andrus - Bass

Joe Puma - Guitar

Harold Granowsky - Drums

From the back cover: This is a collection of what Herbie Mann and Bethlehem Records believe to be "The Finest of Herbie Mann," tracks cut during Herbie's stint on the label, sessions beginning in December, 1954, that resulted in a total of four albums which are today regarded as classics in the field. Here are ten of his best, as culled from "Early Mann" vault masters; the Bethlehem years.

The liner notes for his first Bethlehem album were written by the Mann himself, and from these we quote, "A group that has a flute in it should be a light swinging, happy sounding one. Those are the qualities of the instrument. But a great deal of the flute jazz recorded to date is lacking in this respect. Many potentially great jazz flutists have been hampered by heavy, sluggish, accompaniment that failed to complement the flute sound. The flute cannot be treated like any other horn. It must be surrounded with instruments which do not weight it down to that point at which it loses its natural character."

Chicken Little

After Work

My Little Suede Shoes

A Spring Morning 

The Purple Grotto

Sorimao

The Influential Mr. Cohn

A One Way Love

Jasmin

Beverly