Herbie Mann/Phil Woods

Beyond Brooklyn

Manchester Craftsmen's Guild

Herbie Mann, flute, alto flute; Phil Woods, alto sax, clarinet; Jay Ashby, trombone, alto trombone, percussion; Gil Golsttein, accordion; Alain Mallet, piano; Mark Ashby, guitar; Dwayne Dolphin, bass; Paul Socolow, bass; Roger Humphries, drums; Ricky Sebastian, drums

In 1951 Mann and Woods played together in a "joint"called Tony's Bar in Brooklyn. This recording is the first time they've recorded together in 50 years. It's also Mann's last recording before he passed on July 1, 2003.

Beyond Brooklyn features 2 different rhythm sections includes Gil Goldstein on accordion. The music is quite varied with jazz standards, 3 originals, a beautiful Jobim bossa and even an obscure Hungarian folk song. Mann's flute sound is rich and sonorous, more so than usual. He also plays alto flute, an instrument which should be used more in jazz. You'd never guess he was in a weakened condition.

Phil Woods plays clarinet as well as his usual alto sax.(I heard Phil Woods say that the clarinet is an instrument invented by 7 people who never met each other!) Nonetheless,he plays both instruments superbly as usual.

Mann and Woods represent more than 100 years of collective recording experience! It's no surprise that this is a solid date.

Herbie Mann made a series of interesting world music/jazz recordings one of which is a masterpiece, "The Common Ground", recorded during and after an African tour and featuring Michael Olatunji plus 4 trumpets. As far as I know this has never been recorded on CD in this country. Why Atlantic/Koch are sitting on this recording is another example of business over art.

by David Heymann

Editor: Many of Herbie Mann's CDs are listed in Jazz Now Direct and can be purchased by you.

New Sounds - October 2004

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