Search - Lalo Schifrin :: Mannix

Not as bad as all that

Roy A | New England | 07/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to my fellow reviewers, I had time to downsize my expectations for this disk before it appeared in my mailbox. As with the recent release of the "Bullitt" soundtrack, this is neither a reissue nor a reproduction of the music from the 1969 "Mannix" LP. What the WDR Big Band has given us instead is a re-interpretation of that music, executed with Teutonic precision - and, unfortunately, Teutonic soul. This CD is burdened by the same minor irritations that kept "Bullitt 2000" from being a truly great recording. Tunes that should be taken fast are taken slow. Tunes that should be taken slow are taken at a trot. A trifle too much bass. The drummer could probably do a killer job on Zeppelin's "Kashmir", but Schifrin's music deserves more. Back in college, I played this disk for a buddy (now a professor of physics at Stanford). When "Hunt Down" started, he listened for a few seconds, then observed "It's tightly arranged, but gives the drummer a lot of freedom." Indeed it does. It's a shame that Herr Haffner couldn't have availed himself of more of it. Nevertheless, the band on occasion rises above its limitations (or cleverly works within them) and delivers a few gutsy and deliciously 60's-retro performances. "Turn Every Stone" is a standout. The original version was a tiresome repetition of a single brass riff that left the listener feeling like he'd been hit with a stun gun. There was a tenor solo in there
somewhere, but it was shouted down by the brass and buried way down in the mix. For all its sound & fury, it just didn't GO anywhere. The WDR has remedied this. Haffner's Led-footed drumming perfectly complements the Branford-style alto squealing, and together with the relentless brass line transforms this into a wonderful piece of street music.The same could be said of "Fear", even though the hissing "Aaahhh..." at the beginning sounds like the vocalist is savoring her first cup of morning coffee. The band soars, and the guitar work is what it should have been on the original. "End Game" comes close to greatness; but again the drummer's timidity (he has chops, he just seems afraid to use them) holds the piece back. On the original, there's a drum break at the end of the last tympani solo that drives the tune home. Needless to say, it doesn't happen here, but overall I'd give it a solid A-. "Hunt Down" - Too measured, and considerably milder than the 1969 version. The French horns lent that one a sense of urgency that's missing here, and the tenor solo seemed to kick the orchestra into high gear. That kind of interplay just doesn't seem to happen anywhere on this CD. B+"The Shadow" - A different take, but not bad. The guitar solo has been replaced by an understated alto sax a little reminiscent of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side". B+ "Warning: Live Blueberries" - Classical and stately, but (as usual) taken a tad too slow, and feels at times almost ponderous. It's curious that there are no conducting credits listed, unless "tonmeister" is Deutsch for "conductor". A-"Mannix (long version)" - Better than the short version that opens the CD. After a few Liberace-like trills, the pianist tries to redeem himself, but is so determined to play fast that he doesn't take the time to think about what he wants to say. A little space would have been nice. It ultimately falls to the sax player to rescue the melody. B."Mannix Mixdown" - Based on what others have written about this CD, I was fully prepared to hate this track, but oddly enough I didn't. I can forgive it as an interesting experiment that failed. Marrying a classical dance rhythm (the waltz) with a contemporary one (hip-hop) is an intriguing concept, but Schifrin's music is too melodic to be well-served by a genre almost entirely about the beat. Besides, I'm of the generation that just doesn't Get this kind of music. At least they stuck it at the very end of the disk. D+ Now, how about some music from "T.H.E. Cat"? And how about finding a different orchestra to record it?"

Not original, but still, it IS Lalo...

John Gergesha | Toronto, ON, CAN | 09/12/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Disappointed to find out that the CD was a re-recording by Lalo back in 1999 (said so in the Liner notes, but it might have swayed my purchase had I seen this tidbit on the OUTSIDE of the cover).
Still, it's a fun CD to listen to. Lalo is Lalo, regardless of WHEN the recording took place. However, collecting purists will likely pan this CD cause it isn't the original release.
Am I sorry I bought this CD? No. The general feeling of the show and the time period are adequately conveyed. A little of the edge is gone.
Perhaps one day they'll resurrect the original soundtrack and digitally remaster it! I'll buy that, too!"

This is a killer Jazzy Soundtrack by Lalo Schifrin

Carlos from Rio | Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil | 02/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Ok. A TV series with stories full of action, a perfect ground for Schifrin's stuff. And here he is in perfect command on what he does the best.



'Mannix' counts on the great WDR Big Band from Germany.



This CD stands for a great album independently from the series."