On this out of print LP, flutist Herbie Mann performs 11 songs from a famous Leslie Bricusse-Anthony Newley musical. Joined by an orchestra arranged by Ray Ellis (and including either Chick Corea or Roger Kellaway on piano), Mann plays well enough. However, the only one of the 11 songs remembered today is "Who Can I Turn To," and the renditions of the material are so brief (only two songs are longer than three minutes) as to be unadventurous and rather superficial. One of Mann's less significant projects of the '60s. - by Scott Yanow, AMG
Today!:
Flutist Herbie Mann has always had wide interests in music. For this hard-to-find LP he is joined by three brass, vibraphonist Dave Pike, bassist Earl May, drummer Bruno Carr and percussionist Patato Valdes (with arrangements by Oliver Nelson) for a wide-ranging program that includes two Beatles songs, a selection from Burt Bacharach and two ancient pieces by Duke Ellington ("Creole Love Call" and "The Mooche"). In general Mann plays quite well but there is little memorable about this generally commercial effort. - by Scott Yanow, AMG
Artist: Herbie Mann
Album: Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint/Today!
Year: 1965/1967 (Atlantic)
Quality: Easy CDDA flac files, artw.
Label: Collectables
Runtime: 61:50
Tracks on Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint:
1. The Joker 2:37
2. Feeling Good 3:26
3. Where Would You Be Without Me? 2:20
4. It Isn't Enough 2:26
5. Look at that Face 2:25
6. This Dream 1:59
7. Who Can I Turn to 2:15
8. The Beautiful Land 2:10
9. My First Love Song 4:16
10. Sweet Beginning 2:00
11. A Wonderful Day Like Today 2:29
All compositions by Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley
Personnel:
Herbie Mann (Flute)
Mark Weinstein (Trombone)
John Hitchcock (Trombone)
Chick Corea (Piano) - 1,2,4,5,7,9,11
Mundell Love (Guitar) - 1,2,4,5,7,9,11
Earl May (Double Bass)
Bruno Carr (Drums)
Dave Pike (Vibraphone) - 1-3,5-8,10
Carlos "Patato" Valdes (Conga)
Roger Kellaway (Piano) - 3,6,8,10
Gene Bertoncini (Guitar) - 3,6,8,10
Turk Van Lake (Guitar) - 4,9,11
Ray Ellis (Arranged and Conducted)
Tracks on Today!:
1. Today (Herbie Mann/Oliver Nelson) 3:46
2. The Creole Love Call (Duke Ellington) 4:58
3. Don't Say I Didn't Tell You So (Burt Bacharach/Hal David) 3:48
4. Arrastao (Edu Lobo/Norman Gimbel) 4:13
5. The Mooche (Duke Ellington/Irving Mills) 4:16
6. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (Rudy Clark) 3:50
7. Yesterday (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) 3:38
8. The Night Before (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) 4:58
Personnel:
Herbie Mann (Flute and Alto Flute)
Oliver Nelson (Arranged and Conducted)
Jimmy Owens (Trumpet)
Jack Hitchcock (Trombone)
Joseph Orange (Trombone)
Dave Pike (Vibraphone)
Earl May (Double Bass)
Bruno Carr (Drums)