A great little album of Latiny tunes from Henry Mancini – played by a very hip lineup of west coast jazzmen! The rhythms have a great mix of Latin influences and Mancini magic – the kind of grooves you'd hear on his 60s soundtracks at the time, played by a lineup that includes Bud Shank and Tom Scott on reeds, Buddy Childers and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Ray Brown on acoustic bass, Max Bennett on fender bass, Larry Bunker on percussion, and Shelly Manne on drums. The vibe is nice and relaxed – a bit more upbeat than bossa, but not as all-out as other RCA Latin sessions – thanks to Mancini's nice sense of warmth and space in the arrangements. Titles include some pretty darn cool takes on "Mission Impossible", "Fistful Of Dollars", "Magnificent Seven", "Touch Of Evil", and "Springtime For Hitler", from the film The Producers. Other titles include "Patricia", "Zacatecas", and "Las Cruces". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collaboration between Perez Prado and trumpeter Shorty Rogers – one in which Rogers' solos sparkle brilliantly over the top of Perez's tight Latin rhythms – all in a style that's as moody as it is evocative and rhythmic! Side one features the extended "Voodoo Suite" – a side-long track that builds nicely on rootsy Latin rhythms that are much freer than Prado's pop work of the 50s – and which features a growing jazz horizon at the edges, filled with players who include Bud Shank on alto and flute, Bob Cooper on tenor, Shelly Manne on drums, and Pete Candoli on trumpet – in a larger section underneath Shorty Rogers' solos. Side two features shorter tracks recorded a year later – a bit more in the standard Prado mode, but still with a really dynamic feel, and contributions from jazz players like Candoli and Rolf Erikson on trumpets, Willie Maiden on tenor, and Jay Hill on trombone. Titles include "Music Makers", "In The Mood", "St. James Infirmary", and "Jumpin At The Woodside". (Latin, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from guitarist Laurindo Almeida – a truly wonderful album, played with small combo backing, which gives the set a jazzier feel than usual! Players include Jimmy Rowles on organ, Bob Cooper on tenor, Howard Roberts on guitar, and Shelly Manne, Milt Holland, and Chico Guerro on percussion – and although there's no credits for the arrangements on the album, the overall feel is similar to Roberts best work for Capitol, especially because Rowles' work on organ gives the record such a groovy sound! Titles include "Acapulco 1922", "Misirlou", "Satin Doll", "More", "Till Then", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", and "Desafinado". LP, Vinyl record album

Henry Mancini "introduces" and produces this one, and it features his organ player running through a bunch of short ditties – a number of them Mancini titles like "Mr. Lucky" and "Days of Wine and Roses". The best cut on here, though, is a nice tight version of "Killer Joe", done with a stripped down studio feel that's mighty nice! Features Ray Brown on bass and Shelly Manne on drums. (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

It's definitely a bossa nova world when Laurindo Almeida's around – given that the player first got the whole sound going in the 50s, then returned the favor in the 60s with some great albums like this for Capitol Records! The set's a bright blend of LA jazz and bossa rhythms – played by a group that also features Howard Roberts on electric guitar, Jimmy Rowles on organ, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Bob Cooper on tenor, and Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, and Chico Guererro on lots of percussion! Almeida plays guitar and cavaquinho on the session – and titles include "Rio Bonito", "Lisbon Antigua", "More", "Danke Shoen", "Till Then", "Say Wonderful Things", and "Sukiyaki". CD

A percussion-heavy batch of tracks that has Pete Rugolo starting from a mode explored heavily in the hi-fi years, but taking the genre into much jazzier territory! With the help of a large group of west coast players – including Don Fagerquist, Larry Bunker, Herbie Harper, Frank Rosolini, Jack Costanzo, and Shelly Manne – Pete really makes things swing nicely, and brings in as much dynamic energy from the horns as he gets from the percussion! Titles include "Bongo Riff", "Drumerama", "Funky Drums", "Interplay For Drums, Bass", "Artistry In Percussion", and "1+4". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album