Click here to visit our new site --> CafeDVD 2.0 Jazz Scene USA: Shorty Rogers/ Shelly Manne (1962) Rating: Starring: Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers Director: Steve Binder Category: Music Studio: Shanachie Subtitles: Length: 60 mins     From the golden age of televised jazz, rare performances by jazz greats transferred from archival film masters. Jazz Scene USA's broadcast over nationally syndicated television in 1962 was cause for joy among jazz fans, and acclaimed at the time by most critics as the finest program of its kind. The brainchild of life-long jazz devotee Steve Allen, the series showcases many of the very best California-based jazz performers, not to mention rare TV appearances by outstanding national acts as well. All are featured without commercial restraints in a relaxed, casual atmosphere created by hipster host, singer Oscar Brown, Jr. Uncompromising in its use of imaginative camera angles, the visual style is on par with the creativity of the music. These shows are time capsules to treasure from America's golden age of televised jazz. Shelly Manne (1920-1984) was the busiest drummer in Hollywood during his heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to a full schedule in the studios for record, film and TV dates, he found the time to lead a top-notch jazz combo, maintain his own nightclub (Shelly's Manne-hole), and raise horses on his Northridge, California ranch. Among the name bands Shelly drummed for in the early 40's are those of Benny Goodman, Raymond Scott, Coleman Hawkins, and Dizzy Gillespie. A valuable 6-year association with Stan Kenton staring in 1946 followed by work with George Shearing, Charlie Ventura, Bill Harris and Woody Herman laid the foundation for Shelly's great versatility (he would later even record with Ornette Coleman). The 1962 lineup - one of Shelly's finest - included Conte Condoli (Trumpet), Richie Kamuca (tenor), Russ Freeman (piano) and Monty Budwig (bass). The Kings Swings and The Isolated Pawn were composed by John Williams for TV's Checkmate, Fantan is a Russ Freeman original, and Speak Law is from the pen of Kurt Weill. Another leading light on the West Coast scene was Shorty Rogers, who likewise apprenticed in big bands during his formative years. Born Milton Rajonsky in 1924 in Massachusetts, he served with Will Bradley and Red Norvo while still in his teens, and enjoyed a close association with Woody Herman's celebrated first and second herds in the late 40's, plus a stint with Stan Kenton in 1950. He contributed a number of fine scores to both bands before establishing himself in Los Angeles where his arranging assignments included scoring the films The Wild One and The Man With the Golden Arm. He never turned his back on jazz, however, as this fine 1962 session underscores. His flugelhorn playing is assured, and his sidemen are first-rate. Lou Levy (piano) Gary Peacock (bass), and Larry Bunker (drums) are the rhythm team, and Gary LeFebvre (tenor and flute) joins Shorty in the front line. The program reflects Shorty's eclecticism: folk tune Greensleeves, Latin American standard Time Was, Shorty's original blues Martians, Go Home and Gary LeFebvre's boppish The Outsider.