Herbie Mann: A Dozen From 1953-1956

In the early 1950s, the flutist was a solid session player with exquisite taste

If you’re old enough to know the name Herbie Mann, you probably think first of the beatnik flutist at New York’s Village Gate in 1961. Or his 1962 and ‘63 bossa nova albums. Or his 1969 funk-fusion album Memphis Underground. Or the groovy shirtless guy on the cover of his 1971 album Push. Or his 1975 disco hit Hi-Jack.

Before all of that, way back in the…