Shelly Manne – 2, 3, 4 (180g, Acoustic Sounds Series, Verve)

Shelly Manne's 2, 3, 4 comes from a 1962 Impulse! session that pairs the West Coast drummer with tenor giant Coleman Hawkins, Hank Jones, Eddie Costa and George Duvivier. The title reflects the album’s shifting formats, moving through duo, trio and quartet settings rather than settling into a single band sound. That structure gives the record its character: intimate, flexible and quietly adventurous, with Manne guiding the music through subtle accents and exacting time rather than pushing himself to the front.

What makes this set especially rewarding is the way it balances swing vocabulary with a more exploratory edge. Standards like “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Cherokee” are stretched by rhythmic play and unusually open interaction, while the group’s restraint keeps everything lucid and conversational. Hawkins is central to that appeal, sounding warm and commanding in a late-career setting that still leaves room for surprise.

There are small details here that jazz listeners tend to remember: Eddie Costa adds extra colour on piano and vibraphone, George Duvivier keeps the whole date grounded, and “Me and Some Drums” strips things back to a striking duet between Hawkins and Manne, with Hawkins even turning to piano for part of the performance. For Manne, it stands as one of his most distinctive small-group albums; for the Acoustic Sounds edition, it is also a welcome return to vinyl with the kind of care this understated classic deserves.

Features

• LP, 33RPM, 180g, Acoustic Sounds Series
• Remastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the original analog tape
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Stoughton old-style tip-on gatefold jacket

Reviews

• A very interesting set with more than its share of surprises. - AllMusic.com

Genre: Jazz