The five volumes of recordings made by Shelly Manne & His Men at the Black Hawk in San Francisco in 1959 found his quintet in remarkable fettle and inspired by the inclusion of visiting pianist Victor Feldman, Feldman, Manne, and bassist Monty Budwig comprised a dream rhythm section. Tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca and trumpeter Joe Gordon were at their best, tight together in the ensemble and particularly inventive in their solos. Manne’s was one of the groups that gave the lie to the belief that West Coast jazz was effete and bloodless. These robust performances of Benny Golson’s “Step Lightly,” Charlie Mariano’s “Vamp’s Blues,” and the classic “What’s New” stand among the best of the period.

with Joe Gordon, Richie Kamuca, Victor Feldman, Monty Budwig