Listen To:


Selected MP3s of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, and classic easy listening from the original vinyl.

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Guitars & All That Jazz was a radio station that webcast via Live365 for 11 years, ending in June 2011. The playlist consisted of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, early rock 'n' roll, lounge music and classic easy listening.

I hope to share some of this music with you via this blog. Most of it will be taken from the original vinyl (LPs and 45s) , cassettes and the occasional commercially unavailable CD.

Here's hoping you'll find something to enjoy. Please note files are available only for a limited time.

I urge you to purchase the digital version of the albums featured, either on CD or via download, wherever possible.

Listen to the Music
There are now two music streams. Click the appropriate player to the right.
1. Guitars & All That Jazz: Five hours of the best in jazz, guitars and other instrumental gems. New songs are added weekly.
2. Tiki Shores: Music to sweep you away to a tropical isle, a South American dance floor or a bossa nova on the beach at Rio. About 4.5 hours of classic exotica music, Latin rhythms and bossa nova.
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Sunday, November 03, 2013

Henry Mancini - Driftwood and Dreams


Driftwood and Dreams (Liberty, 1957) predates Henry Mancini's fame as a soundtrack composer and is far different than his TV and movie scores. The LP, his first, is a collection of exotica music, mostly standards, and apparently was recorded in mono only. Note that Mancini's name is in very small print at the bottom.

When he became well-known, primarily through his score for TV's Peter Gunn, Liberty reissued the album as The Versatile Henry Mancini (1959). The recording now appeared in stereo, with at least one source saying that the music was re-recorded for this release, using identical arrangements and basically the same musicians. Featured were Laurindo Almeida (guitar), Dominic Frontiere (accordion), Bob Bain (bass guitar), Lou Maury (organ) and Loulie Jean Norman (wordless vocals).

The Versatile Henry Mancini was issued with at least two different covers, of which this is the most common. Note the emphasis on Mancini's name.


The sample track, in stereo, is taken from a rather scratchy version of the above LP.

Flamingo



Ten of the 12 tracks from the album were issued on vinyl a third time as The Sounds & Voices of Henry Mancini, on Liberty's Sunset budget label in 1966.


In 2008, both the mono and stereo versions of The Versatile Henry Mancini were combined on one CD from the U.K. This is still available from Amazon and other online sources.


And for those of you who simply must have this album on vinyl, check those thrift store bins! Both The Versatile and Sounds & Voices releases turn up frequently.

Here's another sample.




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