DownBeat November 1991 [antikvár]

ON THE BEATDOWMBEAT November 1991Beating The Drum Nostalgicby John Ephland'he other night, I went to see and hear Henry Mancini conduct and play with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. Now, before some of you go off equating ol' Hank with the likes of Mantovani, Lawrence Welk, or Liberace, let me share what has become a very influential bit of personal music history. The show stirred memories of seeing and hearing live music with my parents as a child. It brought back the music from Mancini albums like Peter Gunn, The Pink Panther, and Mr. Lucky, records that remain impressive for their novelty, big band arrangements, percussive and rhythmic dynamics (remember the theme to Hatari!?), endearing melodies, and, of course, livelysense of humor.Strangely enough, memories of PTA shows at my grade school, with an ever-active pit band off in the corner of the auditorium, also came to mind. Unlike the Mancini ensemblea full orchestra in dazzling array, string section includedthis PTA band had an old upright piano, sometimes a guitar if they could find someone, and a bass. But what made the band interesting in the first place was the most glorious sight of all: a set of drums. Sure, Mancini had his rhythm section center stage, with kettle drums and congas augmenting bass, guitar, piano, and drumset. But the distance created by a large outdoor concert venue was no match for sitting practically on top of the drummer in that pit bandfeeling that bass-dnim punch, snare-drum crack, the crisp tingle from the cymbals. (Admittedly, the music consisted mostly of rote show tunes; but so what? It was the sound of those drums that mattered most.)Needless to say, I was hooked, badgering my parents for drum lessons, and praying that a drumsetor, at least, a snare-and-cymbal combinationwould magically appear Christmas morning.In the day-to-day business of editing a music magazine, it's sometimes easy to forget how I ended up here, the music occasionally taking a back seat to details, deadlines, and the dizzying volume of new "product." Seeing Mancini helped jog the ol' noggin and heart in ways that occur all too rarely. The combination of the sights, sounds, and smells of percussion have al-Mancini's big beot: Shelly Manne, circo 1958ways been a kind of exotic, other-woridly tonica universe of wood, animal skins, and metal unlike any other.Maybe Henry Mancini has lost that ori-nal fire that fueled his early, hungry years; and his dnim-and-percussionist accompanimentat one time stoked by the late, energetic Shelly Manneis now mostly cliché. As for that pit-band driunmer, my memories are ftizzy at best (was he as good as I remember?). But those initial images of music linger, offering the occasional gold minea reminder that, like me, anyone with music in their soul can't help but feel rich.DBDOWPEATNovember 1991 - Volume 58 - No. 11PUBLISHER Kevin Maher ASSOC. PUBLISHER Frank AlkyerMANAGING EDITOR Joho Ephland ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave Helland DESIGN Jay Crawford Design PRODUCTION MGR. Gloha Baldwin CIRCULATION MGR. Elaine Rizleris PRESIDENT Jack MaherCONTRIBUTORS: Larry Birnbaum, Fred Bouchard, Michael Bourne, Tom Copi, Owen Coidle, Lauren Deutsch. John Diliberto, Enid Färber, Leonard Feather, Mitchell Feldman. Andy Freeberg. Elaine Gutegian, Frank-John Hadley. Peler Kostakis. Arl Lange, John Lilweiler, Howard Mandel. John McDonough. Bill Milkowski, Paul Nalkin. Dan Ouellelte. Ben Sandmel. Gene Santoro. Mitchell Seidel, Bill Shoemakec Jack Sohmer. Stephanie Siein, Robin Tolleson, Ron Welburn, Pele Welding. Kevin Whiiertead. Josel Woodard, Scott Yanow CORRESPONDENTS: Albany. NY, Georgia Urban; Atlanla, Dorolhy Pearce; Auslin, Michael Poinl; Baltimore, Fred Douglass; Boslon. Fred Bouchard; Butlah}, John P. Lockhari; Chicago, Jim De Jong; Cincinnati, Bob Nave; Cleveland. C. A Colombi; Detroit. Michael G. Nastos, Las Vegas, Brian Sanders; Los Angeles. Zan Slewart; Minneapolis, Mary Snyder. Nashville, Dave Jenkins, New Orleans, Joel Simpson; Philadelphia. Russell Woessner. Phoenix. Roberl Henschen; Pillsburgh, David J Fabilli; San Francisco, Michael Handler. Seattle, Joseph R. Murpt^; Toronto. Mark Miller, Vancouver Vern Monlgomery; Washington, DC, W A. Brower, Argentina. Max Seligmann; Australia, Eric Myers. Brazil, Chrislopt>er Pickard; Finland, Roger Freundlich; Greal Brilain. Brian Priestley; India, Vinod Advani, llaly, Ruggero Sliassi, Jamaica, Maureen Sheridan, Japar^ StKMChi y\jl. Netherlands. Jaap LCideke, Norway, Randi HuHin, Senegambia. Oko Oraime, Soulh Atrica. Howard Belling. Sweden. Lars Lysiedt