Customer Reviews

At the Manne Hole, Vol. 1

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It's next to impossible to surpass Shelly Manne's seminal live jazz recordings "At The Blackhawk," but the two volumes of "At the Manne-Hole" come remarkably close. These 1961 recordings feature Conte Candoli on trumpet, Richie Kamuca on tenor sax (the lone holdover from the Blackhawk band), Russ Freeman on piano, and Chuck Berghofer on bass at Shelly's club in Hollywood. "Volume One" kicks off with a lively version of "Love For Sale," with Manne's infectious, rhythmic cymbal work highlighting the opening theme. "How Could it Happen to a Dream" features a wonderful, passionate muted trumpet solo from Candoli, followed by Kamuca's stately reprise. "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" is the album's standout tune. I must have more than two dozen versions of this standard scattered among the 1000 or so jazz recordings I own, and this one is among, if not the best. The final track, "The Champ," begins with Shelly saying in a low voice, "Let's play something a little faster." And do they ever, "The Champ" is a cooker. Just like the "Blackhawk" sessions, the recording quality for the "Manne-Hole" volumes is impeccable. I recommend buying the "At The Blackhawk" albums first (feel free to read my reviews for volumes 2-5), but after you fall in love with them (and you will), make the "Manne-Hole" sets your next affair.

I was playing band dates during Shelly's prime and The Manne Hole #1 is one of my favorites. I totally agree with Michael R, and couldn't say it better. Jazz is a musicians music and I'm glad to visit all the "standards" again and again, especially "Love For Sale" and all the treatments the sidemen offer. "At The BlackHawk, Vol 1-5" is a must before these two volumes from "The Manne Hole". Shelly has to be one of the best during the "West Coast Cool" beginings, and provides as great an example that Art Blakey and his "Jazz Messengers" would likely represent the East Coast "Progressive Hot". Whatever your pleasure, "Cool" or "Hot", give Shelly a try.

In the early 1960s when I first started listening to jazz I received the vinyl 2 record set as a gift from my sister and wore those records out a long time ago. When the CDs became available I quickly bought them and after all of these years discovered that this music is still some of my favorite. I like the Blackhawk recordings, too, but in my opinion this recording and volume two from the Manne Hole are just a little bit better. I like the selection of standards and I like Russ Freeman's and Conti Candoli's playing a little better than Victor Feldman and Joe Gordon on the Blackhawk recordings. I just get the feeling that these guys were having a great time. Listen to the samples and then buy. This is great stuff.