"Peter Gunn" by Mancini: ?other jazz style albums

Tim:

Interesting, I'm not familar with "Ultralounge" (think that I did hear about it in the past year, but forgot to check it out). Sounds like something I might enjoy as I like older funky-square music as well as contemporary remakes of the same.

Elizabeth:

As you seem to get a kick out of this side of Mancini you might start a thread on similar/like music (tons of it out there). I have collected a bit of this type through trial and error, but as I am not good with names I would have to sort through our CD's/LP's in order to contribute.

One thing that comes to mind (you probably already have it) it the sound track to "Casino Royale". Not a difficult item to find if you frequent the thrifts.

Just today I picked up a copy of "Porgy and Bess" in which Mel Torme does Porgy and Francis Faye does Bess (1975 3 LP set on Bethlehem). I'm champing @ the bit to listen to it, but as my wife is suffering from P&B overload (100% my fault) I'll wait until she is either sound asleep or away from the home before I give it a spin.

As a teen, Mancini seemed like the lamest brand of cheese, but he wrote some great stuff that is stuck in pretty much everyone's memory bank. The Oranj Symphonette "Plays Mancini" disc is excellent, but maybe a little twisted for older Mancini fans (the 2nd O.S. disc is also highly deluxe). You might also like Tony Coe's "Mostly Mancini" disc. The "Crime Jazz" compilation discs on Rhino are alot of fun (I think there are only two out). You may also hit paydirt by checking out some Nino Rota, Clubfoot Orchestra and some of John Zorn's soundtrack discs.

Funny, I have the same reaction. Peter Gunn is brash and interesting. From then on, the Mancini stuff is fluff! The only other recording in my collection that reminds me of the same exuberant, youthful spirit, is the sound track from the Cotton Club.
Cheers,
Sam

If you liked "Peter Gunn", you'll love "More Music from Peter Gunn". They were big sellers in the late 50's as they made "Jazz" safe for the suburbs. No improvs or drum solos; just a nice Hollywood version of the West Coast "Cool" sound. Coffee anyone?

Another artist you may enjoy is George Shearing who developed the piano,guitar and vibes playing in unison "cocktail music". This kinda stuff can be heard in any "fancy restaurant" scene in films or T.V. shows from the 50's or 60's. That is unless a Bossa Nova wasn't scored.

And WOW! 18 cents for a mint mono!?! Man, that's living!

Yes, George shearing is a good rec. and also perhaps Michael Legrand (sp).

Not certain if this is available on LP, but "Malcom McLaren Paris" is one of my favortites (2 CD set). As to which category most of the music fits into I don't know, so I'll just call it Industrial/Beat Jazz.

Maybe too square for many, but I also enjoy live (not studio so much) recordings of Bobby Short (sp).