Henry Mancini / Original Soundtrack - Music From Peter Gunn Soundtrack CD

 Cool Shots From "Peter Gunn"
This is some of Mancini's best work, and the epitome of the Mancini sound. Band roster includes top jazzmen Pete Candoli, Paul Horn, John Williams, Shelly Manne. Goes well with companion album "More Music From Peter Gunn."
Submitted by jawillard (Kenosha, WI, USA) 
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 Excellent
Excellent sound, the disc is well worth the money. Replaces my scratchy album.
Submitted by thirdbooth (Racine WI. USA) 
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 Swinging cool jazz
Nice, gently swinging cool jazz numbers. Great easy listening. Duane Eddy did a storming rock cover version of the title track.
Submitted by Derek (Watford, England)
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 Peter Gunn - the definitive Mancini soundtrack
If you are a fan of the Peter Gunn theme, whch has a decidely rock-feel to it (it's actually a rock tempo, not jazz) then the rest of this recording may or may not be to your liking. The marriage of 'cool' with the driving excitement of a big band was an overwhelming success and marked the beginning of a decade of jazz-tinged film and TV work that came from Hollywood. Mancini chose the west coast 'cool' sound because it supported the story: Gunn himself was featured hanging out at jazz club called Mother's. According to Will Friedwald, the author of the liner-notes on the re-issue, this recording "can not be described as anything other than orchestral jazz of the highest caliber". Mancini stocked this orchestra with some of the finest jazz and studio players available, including Pete Candoli and Conrad Gozzo on trumpet, Barney Kessel on guitar, tenor saxist Ted Nash, and on piano Johny T. Williams, later to become Hollywood's most prolific sountrack composer. L.A. drummer Jack Sperling handled all the drum charts on the original release (Shelley Manne only appears on the re-issue on the bonus tracks). Other veterans of note to jazz buffs would include Plas Johnson, Victor Feldman, Al Stoller, and Larry Bunker. Recorded in Hollywood in August and September 1958, the charts feature strong walking bass and drum patterns, crisp ensemble brass work, and beautiful solo work, esepcially from the reed players. My favorites include Fallout!, The Floater, and Blues For Mother's. But the best track is still the theme. Buy it just for that and consider the rest to be a fabulous bonus. If you like this, More Music From Peter Gunn is great, too.
Submitted by rick (Arvada CO)
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