Among Mundell Lowe's finest albums (and there are many) are the two TV Action Jazz LPs he recorded in 1959 and 1960. Most jazz fans think of Mundell solely as a polished guitarist in both club and studio settings. In fact, Mundell also is a terrific swinging arranger, and the TV Action Jazz albums bear this out.
The first one, recorded in February 1959, was called TV Action Jazz! The album featured Donald Byrd (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Herbie Mann (fl,ts), Tony Scott (cl,bar), Eddie Costa (p,vib), Mundell Lowe (g), Don Payne (b) and Ed Shaughnessy (d). The album's concept was to take the hottest detective shows on TV at the time and create swinging arrangements of their themes. Quite a challenge considering how hip these themes already were.
The track list will bring back memories for those who remember what TV was like in 1959. On the album are jazz interpretations of the themes to Peter Gunn, Mike Hammer, Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, M Squad, The Thin Man, Naked City and Fallout!
Among the highlights are the late-night ballad treatment of the Naked City theme and the rapid-fire The Thin Man. Throughout, Mundell offers juicy, thick guitar lines, with nifty solos by each of the players, particularly trombonist Jimmy Cleveland and Tony Scott on baritone sax.
The second album, simply called Themes From... was recorded in June 1960. The personnel shifted slightly: Clark Terry (tp); Willie Dennis, Urbie Green and Frank Rehak (tb); Rod Levitt (b-tb); Phil Bodner (reeds); Eddie Costa (p,vib); Mundell Lowe (g); George Duvivier (b) and Ed Shaughnessy (d). By featuring Clark Terry on solo trumpet and beefing up the trombone section, the second volume has an even more detective-y feel. For some reason, trombones best express the hip, cool nature of TV's private eyes.
The tracks on the second album are themes to Tightrope, Hawaiian Eye, Mr. Lucky, The Untouchables, Bourbon Street Beat, Detectives, Markham and Johnny Staccato. Of particular note are Tightrope, Mr. Lucky and Markham.
As Mundell said in the first album's liner notes:
"One thing that impressed me strongly while I was doing this is what a pleasure it is to watch a TV show on which the music has been composed and recorded in this country. There's such a difference not only in the quality of the playing but the writing and recording, too."
Or put differently, it was great back then to flip on the tube and hear jazz themes behind the shows. What's particularly interesting about these two albums is that they are East Coast interpretations of West Coast TV-studio themes. All of Mundell's charts have a New York feel and all featured largely East Coast musicians. Very snappy stuff.
JazzWax note: For Part 1 of my interview series with Mundell Lowe, go here.
JazzWax tracks: Now for the big surprise. Are you sitting down? Good. Because instead of shelling out upward of $40 for the CD that combines both albums, I noticed that the first album, TV Action Jazz!, is now at iTunes for just $5.99. But if you want the second volume, too, both are available together for $15.99 on Complete TV Action Jazz (LoneHill) here.
JazzWax clip:Here's Nelson Riddle's Naked City Theme, to give you a sense of how cool this song is. Mundell Lowe's arrangement, by contrast, is slower and moodier, and likely based on the show's end theme as credits rolled...
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Ah yes, we remember what american TV was like in 1959... and film ... and music ... and what they turned into in the sixties... would there be a link, a common cause by any chance ... ?
The OST of the Mike Hammer series was pretty great itself, by the way :
In 1959 tv was the most important thing in life, after football, although I don't remember actually watching any of those shows except for Perry Mason. A friend claims that he and his brothers would start marching around the living room whenever the theme for that show came on. Jerry Goodman (from Mahavishnu) recorded a heavy rock version in the '80s on an album called "It's Alive." The Nelson Riddle clip was so cool that I kind of wished that you had put in a link for that album (if there is one.)
A small correction: I believe you'll find that, rather than a separate TV show and theme, "Fallout!" was one of Mancini's Peter Gunn compositions. I can almost hear that walking bass and screaming trumpet as I'm hitting the keys--in fact, I'm getting up to put the album on right now. (West really is best for Mancini's tunes.)
Shelly Manne recorded three excellent albums of music from "Peter Gunn." The one called "Jazz Gunn" also includes versions of his own music for another show called "Daktari."
A gem that has long been out of print was done back in the early 60s by arranger (and former Kenton trombonist) Harry Betts: "Jazz Soul of Dr Kildare & Other TV Themes." It was on the short-lived AVA label. The arrangements were outstanding and the band featured the cream of the West Coast jazz musicians of that era: Bud Shank, Frank Rosolino, Jack Sheldon, etc. I bought the LP in high school and still have it. Its worn condition is a testament to how much playing time it received! I would love to have it on CD but never was able to track a copy down.
Fernando Ortiz de Urbina has reminded me that today, August 14th, would have been the 80th birthday of the great pianist/vibist Eddie Costa. If you're an Eddie Costa fan and you don't own the "TV Action Jazz" CD Marc mentions above, you're missing one of his greatest recordings. His playing on it is nothing short of astounding. Get it! (And if you don't know about Eddie Costa, by all means get this CD; you'll want to get all his others after hearing this one).
Marc Myers writes regularly for The Wall Street Journal and is author of "Anatomy of 55 More Songs," "Anatomy of a Song," "Rock Concert: An Oral History" and "Why Jazz Happened." Founded in 2007, JazzWax has won three Jazz Journalists Association awards.
Ah yes, we remember what american TV was like in 1959... and film ... and music ... and what they turned into in the sixties... would there be a link, a common cause by any chance ... ?
The OST of the Mike Hammer series was pretty great itself, by the way :
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hiftxq8jldte
Posted by: Claude Neuman | August 12, 2010 at 07:43 AM
In 1959 tv was the most important thing in life, after football, although I don't remember actually watching any of those shows except for Perry Mason. A friend claims that he and his brothers would start marching around the living room whenever the theme for that show came on. Jerry Goodman (from Mahavishnu) recorded a heavy rock version in the '80s on an album called "It's Alive." The Nelson Riddle clip was so cool that I kind of wished that you had put in a link for that album (if there is one.)
Posted by: David | August 12, 2010 at 01:20 PM
A small correction: I believe you'll find that, rather than a separate TV show and theme, "Fallout!" was one of Mancini's Peter Gunn compositions. I can almost hear that walking bass and screaming trumpet as I'm hitting the keys--in fact, I'm getting up to put the album on right now. (West really is best for Mancini's tunes.)
Posted by: Ed Leimbacher | August 12, 2010 at 01:28 PM
Shelly Manne recorded three excellent albums of music from "Peter Gunn." The one called "Jazz Gunn" also includes versions of his own music for another show called "Daktari."
Posted by: David | August 12, 2010 at 01:29 PM
A gem that has long been out of print was done back in the early 60s by arranger (and former Kenton trombonist) Harry Betts: "Jazz Soul of Dr Kildare & Other TV Themes." It was on the short-lived AVA label. The arrangements were outstanding and the band featured the cream of the West Coast jazz musicians of that era: Bud Shank, Frank Rosolino, Jack Sheldon, etc. I bought the LP in high school and still have it. Its worn condition is a testament to how much playing time it received! I would love to have it on CD but never was able to track a copy down.
Posted by: Bruce Armstrong | August 12, 2010 at 02:31 PM
And, of course, Riddle's great theme to "Route 66."
Posted by: Steve Provizer | August 12, 2010 at 07:32 PM
Interesting that RCA issued the 2 Lowe LPs on their RCA CAMDEN budget label instead of their full priced RCA VICTOR. I wonder why?
Posted by: John P. Cooper | August 14, 2010 at 05:34 AM
Fernando Ortiz de Urbina has reminded me that today, August 14th, would have been the 80th birthday of the great pianist/vibist Eddie Costa. If you're an Eddie Costa fan and you don't own the "TV Action Jazz" CD Marc mentions above, you're missing one of his greatest recordings. His playing on it is nothing short of astounding. Get it! (And if you don't know about Eddie Costa, by all means get this CD; you'll want to get all his others after hearing this one).
Posted by: Jon Foley | August 14, 2010 at 09:46 PM
The Music from M-Squad :
Starring Benny Carter, Frank Rosolino, Don Fagerquist…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhXez5Ib2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWbio_3fZzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7qkgBGM2F4
===>
http://www.amazon.com/Music-M-Squad-Stanley-Wilson/dp/B000051TA1
Posted by: Claue Neuman | August 30, 2010 at 06:08 PM
Shorty Rogers in "Peter Gunn" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4jFd0XYYb0
Posted by: Claude Neuman | March 27, 2011 at 05:54 AM