Shelly Manne: 2-3-4 (Acoustic Sounds Series, 180g) [IMPULSE!]

Why you'll love it

An Acoustic Sounds Series pressing on 180g vinyl in a gatefold jacket. West Coast drummer Shelly Manne flew to New York to play with Coleman Hawkins, Hank Jones and George Duvivier, and Hawkins even plays piano on one tune, the first time he'd been recorded doing so.

This edition

• Acoustic Sounds Series, 180g vinyl
• Gatefold jacket
• Six tracks, as on the original Impulse! LP

About the album

The title is the line-up. In February 1962 producer Bob Thiele brought Shelly Manne from Los Angeles to New York and reunited him with tenor giant Coleman Hawkins and pianist Hank Jones, both old friends from the 1940s. The session ran into the small hours, and when it was done there was a duet (the 2), two trio pieces with Eddie Costa (the 3) and three quartet tunes (the 4). Neat, if you like your arithmetic swinging.

Manne was the great West Coast drummer, all taste and touch, and here he gets to stretch: "Me And Some Drums" is just that, and the quartet takes "Take The 'A' Train" and "Cherokee" at unexpected angles. Costa switches between vibes on "The Sicks Of Us" and piano on "Lean On Me", and Hawkins sounds delighted to be in the room. A small, clever record from a label that rarely made any other kind.

Tracklist

Listen

Out July 24, 2026 on Impulse! (cat# 5708510), a reissue of the 1962 album.