07/22: Song of the Day. Herbie Mann–Summertime
![Herbie Mann At the Village Gate [cover art]](http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj23/deeplyrootedradio/HerbieMann-1.jpg)
As I sat down to write another Song of the Day post I really had no idea what direction I wanted to head in. I stared at my computer screen for a while, scanned through a couple YouTube videos, and I even stopped by a couple of the more well-known music blogs to see what new videos are out there, but nothing seemed to grab me. So I just gave up trying and decided instead to thumb through my vinyl collection, not in search of inspiration, but more as a form of purposeful procrastination. And wouldn’t you know it, the first record I put my hand on has led me here.
Herbie Mann’s At the Village Gate is one of my favorite live albums of all-time. Recorded at the Village Gate in New York City and released in 1961, At the Village Gate features Mann, who at the time was the lone jazz flutist in the business, at his very finest. The album only contains three songs, bassist Ben Tucker’s “Comin’ Home Baby” and two Gershwin numbers, “Summertime” which you can hear after the break, and the nearly twenty minute version of “It Ain’t Necessarily So”. That’s the album on the surface. But between the grooves is where the groove lies and this album to me is the grooviest of them all.
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Summertime by Herbie Mann
[This is one of those cover art only YouTube video posts so if you’re looking for live action, this one doesn’t have it. Also, this got me thinking about some of my all-time favorite live albums, which I’ve listed below. What live albums would you include in your all-time favorite list? Don’t be shy, you can tell us. Drop your must hear Live Ones in the comments for all to see. BTW-I’m not talking about bootlegs, but official album releases]
Here’s My 6 List of Live Albums
-Herbie Mann: At the Village Gate
-John Mayall: Turning Point
-Johnny Cash: At Folsolm Prison
-Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys
-Allman Brothers Band: Live At Fillmore East
-Nirvana: Unplugged
Popularity: 30% [?]
Tagged as: 07/22, flute, Herbie Mann, jazz, live albums, Music, Song of the Day, Summertime
Wow…thanks for sharing this. I love Herbie Mann. I haven’t listened to his stuff in a loooong time. Thanks for reminding me. As for a great live album…I would have to say:
Alice in Chains Unplugged.
These songs stripped down to the acoustic level are just great.
I have a few more to add…
Kicking Television - Live in Chicago (Wilco)
Live at the Apollo (James Brown)
Europe 72 (The Grateful Dead)
Big Time (Tom Waits)
The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 (Bob Dylan)
Sunbow…great choices all around…a couple were close to being on my list as well…the Dead and James Brown for starters. Glad you enjoyed the Herbie Mann…I dig those albums (both Village Gate records, At the Village Gate and Return to Village Gate…but the first is far superior!)