Henry Mancini - Blues The Beat (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

One of Mancini's best Jazz albums

Barbara J. Major | Upper Darby, PA United States | 06/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The title of this review just about says it all, to me. This was one of Hank's best efforts in the jazz field, along with the "Combo" and "Uniquely Mancini" albums. The dynamics and imagination of the arrangements are superb on this "The Blues and The Beat" album. I have both the LP and the CD. My favorite track on the album is "Mood Indigo" but there are others that I like almost equally well.There was no one like Mancini and never will be again. Don't pass this album up if you want to truly enjoy a great album by Hank."

Beware of of crappy "remasters"

frederick c.hayner (airart8@aol.com | 09/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"the music on this album is fantastic-after all it's from America's best composer!- but be extremely careful of buying so-called "remastered" copy from bmg/spain! it is truly crappy! sonics are rotten and whole album sounds like bootleg project; spend a few more bucks and get JVC version from Japan: That is spectacular!"

Forty Year Old Tracks....Sound Better Than Ever

W.Don Wood | Matawan,, New Jersey USA | 03/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Henry has been gone from us for over a decade, but the musical legacy he left behind is still staggering! Being a BIG BAND guy, I have had the LP since it came out...even have it SIGNED by
Hank at the Garden State Arts Center in the mid 80's. The musicians used by the Maestro throughout his career were the best Hollywood had to offer, many comming from the Les Brown band
of that period. I pefer the BEAT selections...when you hear it you will understand. If you have a top flight music system, let
'er rip....FIVE STARS FOREVER !"

One of Mancini's best jazz albums to date

Henry Cooper | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Truly that one started when he begin experiemented two different styles of music into 1 album, 2 sides based off the LP and cassette set. It's like listening to the Miles Davis and Gil Evans collaborations, Duke Ellington's ELLINGTON UPTOWN, NEWPORT '56, BLACK, BROWN AND BEIGE, JAZZ PARTY, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, etc., Quincy Jones' THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT JAZZ, Q LIVE IN PARIS 1960, QUINTESSANCE, TALKIN' VERVE, WALKING IN SPACE, Ray Charles' GENIUS + SOUL = JAZZ, among others.

The 1st side "The Blues" where he does the same title off track 1 and does the rest from tracks 2 thru 6. Isn't that incredible. Now on the 2nd side "The Beat" begins being more effective, more up-beat, kinda strong a real jazzy feel w/ much swing and beat to it. I luv every one of 'em on this album. Both the Blues and the Beat.

If u ever listen to previous Mancini albums like MR. LUCKY, MR. LUCKY GOES LATIN, BEST OF MANCINI, COMBO, UNIQUELY MANCINI, MANCINI '67, THE PETER GUNN SEQUEL (both MUSIC and MORE MUSIC), etc., u'll notice the difference. Is it unbelieve that he has a 21, 22-piece big band (e.g. 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 reeds doubling on sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet, maybe even bass clarinet or both, 4 French horns, and a 5-piece rhythm section incl. one guitar player, one bass, one person doubling on vibes and marimba, one piano and especially the drums which ppl call "the skin" or the killer or the baddest instrument in jazz) lead by the conductor and arranger, Mr. Henry Mancini. He's such a Genius. I luv him 2 death. I recently purchased his memoir DID THEY MENTION THE MUSIC? for $3.90 discount which is cheap when I read, I'll feel impressed about it. Long story short, Asides leading the big bands, orchestras and stuff, he's also a talented piano player. You should check out A WARM SHADE OF IVORY which I have on LP and it's pretty amazing. I may do a review of that also which I rate 4 to 4.5 stars.

Ok wonderful album and mostly a must-have for all Mancini fans and especially jazz, pop, classical, rock and Mancini beginners alike. Old or new."

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