Search - Shelly Manne :: Live at the Black Hawk 5

Yummy Leftovers for Dinner

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Shelly Manne's "At The Blackhawk" recordings were originally issued on vinyl, there were only four volumes. But in the era of CDs, labels have culled their vaults for additional material to beef up their reissues of classic recordings. There must have been plenty of leftover material from the Blackhawk sessions, because not only are their numerous alternate takes scattered among the original four volumes, but their was enough leftover for an entire 50 minute plus "Volume 5." And this is not mom's gross meatloaf leftovers, we're talking the filet mignon you couldn't finish at the five-star restuarant leftovers! These six tracks, heard no where else on the other four volumes, are just as good performance-wise and soundwise, as the classic material on Volumes 1-4. Of particular interest to me are a trio version of "Wonder Why" and the complete version of "A Gem from Tiffany," heard on the end of volumes 1, 2 & 4 as only a concluding morsel. If only all "previously unreleased material" were this good!"

Shy Manne!

Michael B. Richman | 06/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is great. The first track, how Deep are the Roots swings, and so does, Theme from A Gem From Tiffany. This album is good, but lacks one major ingrediant. Manne never takes a solo. I'm a drummer, and I look for that sort of stuff. How Deep are the Roots, and Wonder Why shore could have got drum solos. The horns were great though. I guess Manne was shy that night. He's my favorite drummer, and I like to see or hear him solo every once in a while. He's great on Sonny Rollins's Way Out West.
C.M. Covais"