Henry Mancini - Combo (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Possibly the coolest record ever made

memo2self@aol.com | New York City | 08/21/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I admit it... I didn't listen to rock&roll as a kid. My parents didn't like it and I was too naive to rebel at that time (that came later). My dad was a big Henry Mancini fan, and so I would play "Peter Gunn" and the upbeat cuts from "Hatari" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" all the time (I would skip over the boring ballads, you know, like "Moon River"). "Combo!" was my favorite, though. It had one particular element that leapt out of the grooves and shook me by my eight-year-old shoulders: a jazz harpsichord. I thought this was SO COOL. I took a lot of heat for preferring Henry Mancini in those days... but I am absolutely convinced that my eclectic tastes these days are a direct result of falling in love with music this creative, subtle and beautifully crafted. It's finally out on CD, and almost 40 years later it is still SO COOL. The players include Art Pepper and Shelly Manne -- and the harpsichordist is none other than John Williams! I also want to emphasize that I don't look upon this album as some kind of nostalgic bachelor-pad-lounge-retro-so-campy-it's-good experience... this is a real jazz album, to my mind Mancini's best -- and I guarantee that if you play it, SOMEBODY is going to say "Who is THAT??" Do check it out. This would be at the very top of my Desert Island list."

Still great!

magiclary | 11/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am so old... I bought this album the first time around (remember vinyl?) wore it out, bought another one on vinyl. Bought it on 8-track. Bought it on reel-to-reel. Bought it on cassette. Can you tell I think it is one of the greatest small-combo jazz recordings ever? Yeah. Think of it: Bob Bain, Shelly Manne, Ted Nash AND Pete Candoli."

Git your gunn here

KIM MCDANIEL | Los Angeles, CA, USA | 01/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i'm not a big jazz fan, but there's something SO COOL about this sound ... i can't quite put my finger on it ... sexy? maybe that's it? it's certainly not like the big band music that my dad has been listening to for nigh unto 80 years. (now, i love my dad, but how it's possible listen to the SAME THING OVER & OVER & OVER AGAIN, i'll never understand! aaaaahhhhh!!!!!) & i just love this "gunn" version of Tequila!"

Great, but not quite as good as "Peter Gunn" itself...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 01/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you like the soundtracks to "Peter Gunn" or "Mr. Lucky" or "Pink Panther" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's" you will like this disc as well. Recorded in the summer of 1960 by most of the same players who appeared on the other albums I named, it is cheerful but a bit short at 37 minutes. Apparently there were no "bonus tracks" available from the three sessions it took to nail these dozen tunes. While the harpsichord work by the now-famous John Williams may be a bit too prominent for some tastes, it wears well, and repeated listening only adds to one's enjoyment of this early Mancini classic. The group of 11 West Coast jazzmen does a short version of the Art Blakey/Bobbie Timmons gem "Moanin'" and a killer version of the more famous "Tequila." However, all 12 selections are just fine, mostly fast "beatnik era" blasts. In addition to the harpsichord, rare in jazz, we get trumpet, trombone, alto sax, flute, clarinet, baritone sax, piano, guitar, bass, vibes, conga, marimba and drums. I can't imagine any jazz fan not liking it."

Beyond the hipster set

Jason Piecuch | Merced, California, USA | 04/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the late 1990's, Mancini got popular again because of the big-ass-trend of swing and retro-cocktail lounge. Henry Mancicni even in those times, wasn't the most popular of this genere, he was though the most competant. Mancini's style was of the nice guy. The man who could be Hollywood, and introspective, he emcompassed many moods. A genuine American. As with all great artists in musicians, he was remembered a little too late. Henry died in 1994, and if he had just hung on a little longer he would've seen his career come full circle.

Henry's career peaked during the mid-1960's, and this album, on the heels of "Peter Gunn" and the "Hatari" soundtrack set the stage for Henry's explosive career. This album has infusions of jazz, pop, and a slight European flair that gives it a very cool and sexy edge.

Mancini today is remembered by reflections of an age of Kennedy in "Life" magazine, the color aquamarine, and an America quickly losing its innocence. His music reflects his times perfectly, and can be enjoyed today in memory of what once was. This album is a must for any Mancini collector, and a good introduction for any new fan of his music and works. An excellent value as well.

"

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