Born in Los Angeles in 1933, Hank De Mano, started playing cornet at the age of nine, but soon switched to trumpet. In 1955 he made his record debut leading a quartet with Don Friedman, piano, Monty Budwig, bass, and Gary Frommer, drums, a promising start in a format he mostly stuck to, with variations, almost always under his own leadership; he was very independent, and seldom played in other groups often. In the early sixties he switched almost exclusively to flugelhorn.
On these admirable live performances his playing is relaxed and warm, his instrumental command making for melodic, solidly constructed solos and fiery uptempo work. Never well known beyond Los Angeles, he was much admired there, notably by pianists Don Friedman and Frank Strazzeri.
Both of these De Mano quartet dates were recorded at concerts held at El Camino College, in Torrence, California. The first in this set in 1966 with the fine Chicago pianist Irv Rochlin —who for a time went by the stage name Irv Craig— bassist Joe Richardson, and drummer Jack Lynde. The second three years before, in November 1963, and it included Frank Strazzeri, Monte Budwig, and drummer Nick Martinis.
These rare quartet recordings will hopefully introduce to new fans the work of a singularly independent talent who disappeared from the jazz scene several years ago.
Tracklisting:
01. Summertime (Gershwin-Heyward) 6:38
02. Lullaby of the Leaves (Petkere-Young) 6:37
03. Four (Davis) 6:10
04. These Foolish Things (Strachey-Link-Young) 8:29
05. Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 3:23
06. Long Ago and Far Away (Rainger-Robin) 5:30
07. Angel Eyes (Dennis-Adair) 9:59
08. Delilah (Shril-Manners) 11:36
09. Summertime (Gershwin-Heyward) 10:05
Sources:
Tracks #1-5, from the sample vinyl “Wheels Car's and Chicks” - Hank De Mano and The Freeway Quartet (Freeway Record Co. SFR-656), reissued as “Hank De Mano - Flyin' Fluegel Horn” (Freeway Record Co. FRS-500)
Tracks #6-9, from the album “Hank De Mano Quartet in Concert – featuring Fluegelhorn” as stated in the cover, but on the label is printed as “The Freeway Jazz Quartet featuring Hank De Mano, fluegelhorn” (Freeway Record Co. FLP-555)
Personnel on #1-5:
Hank De Mano, flugelhorn; Irv (Craig) Rochlin, piano; Joe Richardson, bass; Jack Lynde, drums.
Recorded live at El Camino College, Summer 1966
Personnel on #6-9:
Hank De Mano, flugelhorn; Frank Strazzeri, piano; Monty Budwig, bass; Nick Martinis, drums.
Recorded live at El Camino College, November 20, 1963
Original recordings produced by Hank De Mano
Recorded by Steve Grumette
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
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Review:
"I have absolutely no idea how Fresh Sound Records even HEARD of this guy, let alone found material by him. Back in the 50s, Hank De Mano started his career in Los Angeles and was some part of the West Coast scene, working as a sideman for Dave Brubeck and Anita O’Day. He put a group together, playing the flugelhorn and recorded two concerts at not exactly the crossroads of the world; El Camino College in Torrance, CA. A 1963 gig has him with an impressive trio of Frank Strazzeri/p, Monty Budwig/b and Nick Martinis/dr, and three years later he’s with Irv Rochlin/p, Joe Richardson/b and Jack Lynde. I guess he found his room!
Anyway, his tone is as warm as Art Farmer’s, and his melodicism is up there with Chet Bakers. He is gorgeous and lyrical on”Long Ago and Far Away” and “Lullaby of the Leaves.” On more uptempo material, he flexes his muscles with Martinis and Budwig on “Delilah” and snaps as well as Miles o “Four.” His brass shines on the thoughtful “These Foolish Things” and casts shadows on the two reads of “Summertime.” What happened to this guy?!? This one’s going to scratch your head why you’re not familiar with him. This is the “Where’s Waldo” of horn players!"
George W. Harris (January 9, 2017)
http://www.jazzweekly.com/
