Search - Michel Legrand :: Shelly's Manne-Hole (Mlps)

LEGRAND PLAYS PIANO TOO!

Giovanni | Chicago, IL | 08/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the liner notes of this great import from Verve state, few people remember (or know) that Michel Legrand, the arranger/conductor/songwriter from France, got his humble beginnings as a piano player, and a pretty good one at that!
This fertlie setting gives us a great opportunity to witness proof of that, a 1968 date in Hollywood with Ray Brown (the greatest bass player who ever lived, and who we recently lost) and Shelly Manne on drums. Shelly also happenned to be the owner of record where these sides were captured in front of a live audience. While the originals will make you lean foward to get a good listen (GRAND BROWN MAN and RAY'S RIFF are great; the avant-garde LOS GATOS will really get you going)my favorite here is the touching version Michel gives of the Johnny Mandel classic, A TIME FOR LOVE. There is much to be said of Legrand and company's playing on one of Michel's own works, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS as well. But let the music speak for itself, get this album and relax...and swing a little too! Another fine import."