RUSS FREEMAN & SHELLY MANNE
One On One (Contemporary)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Although they'd had a decades long musical relationship, in the Lighthouse All Stars, Shelly Manne and His Men and other lineups, nearly three of those decades lapsed between pianist Russ Freeman and drummer Shelly Manne's two duo sessions. This date, recorded in 1982, took place after Freeman had largely dropped out of the jazz scene, filling his calendar with session and soundtrack work. Manne, of course, never strayed from the jazz mainstream in which he was a central figure for forty years. The decision to revisit a format they had first explored in 1954, though, turned out to be a fruitful one for both, establishing that Freeman's improvisational chops were as strong as ever and giving Manne one of the best studio dates of his later career.

The mix of standards and Freeman originals and the truncated lineup gave each player plenty of room to stretch out, and there are excellent solos at every turn here. No drummer could have been a better choice for a session like this one. Manne was always, above all else, a musical drummer, committed to exploring the full expressive range of his kit. Freeman moved smoothly between cool and bop styles throughout his career, and shows the best of both sides on these cuts.

The CD reissue is augmented by five bonus takes, all well deserving release. This would be a must hear release without them. With them, it moves into the must have column.

Track List:

I'm Getting Sentimental Over You * How About That * I'm Old Fashioned * On Green Dolphin Street * Take The "A" Train * Prime Time * Loose As A Goose * Lullaby Of The Leaves * Blue Monk * One On One * Name That Tune (previously unreleased) * Blue Monk (alternate) * Loose As A Goose (alternate) * On Green Dolphin Street (alternate) * Lullaby Of The Leaves (alternate)

© 2001 - Shaun Dale