Flutist Herbie Mann's first recording as a leader (seven selections from 1954 originally on a 10" LP plus four others cut in 1956) has been reissued on CD with three alternate takes added on. Even back in 1954, Mann (who doubles here on flute and alto flute) had his own sound. The music (featuring either Benny Weeks or Joe Puma on guitar in a piano-less quartet) is essentially straight-ahead bop and finds Mann playing quite melodically and with swing. This set is a good example of Herbie Mann's early style before he started exploring various types of world musics. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Chicken Little 2:58
Herbie Mann
2 Cuban Love Song 3:13
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh / Herbert Stothart
3 The Things We Did Last Summer 4:12
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
4 Deep Night 3:36
Charles Henderson / Rudy Vallée
5 Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 4:03
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
6 After Work 4:04
Herbie Mann
7 Moon Dreams 3:26
Chummy MacGregor / Johnny Mercer
8 A Spring Morning 2:40
Herbie Mann
9 Scuffles 2:54
Gardner / Herbie Mann
10 The Purple Grotto 2:42
Herbie Mann
11 My Little Suede Shoes 2:40
Herbie Mann / Charlie Parker
– Bonus Cuts –
12 A Spring Morning (Take 6) 2:49
Herbie Mann
13 The Purple Grotto (Take 1) 2:53
Herbie Mann
14 Chicken Little (Take 3) 3:11
Herbie Mann
Credits
Bass – Keith Hodgson (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 to 14), Whitey Mitchell (2, 4, 7, 9)
Drums – Herbie Wasserman (2, 4, 7, 9), Lee Rockey (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 to 14)
Flute, Alto Flute – Herbie Mann
Guitar – Benny Weeks (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 to 14), Joe Puma (2, 4, 7, 9)
