Matt If sheer talent and absolutely stunning musicianship was a perquisite for popularity this would of made number one in 1984 but alas more than likely just a handful of old blokes with Johnny Mandel heard this album, Zoot Sims plays Johnny Mandel, “Quietly There”. Johnny Mandel is still going and is a young 89 currently but he is one of those in the music world who most would not recognise but they all sure have heard his music. Johnny is best known for his composition with the television show MASH and it’s opening number “Suicide Is Painless” but there is a lot more to him than just that. Johnny Mandel played bass trumpet for Zoot during the fifties over on the West Coast but that was not the only instrument that he played with trombone, trumpet and piano also being in his skills. He has arranged for so many musicians including another arranger Quincy Jones ( Grammy “Velas” 1981) with also Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole ( Grammy “Unforgettable” with Nat,1991), Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Diana Krall and the list goes on. Bill Evans (pianist) included Johnny’s composition “Emily” on his album “Further Conversations With Myself” with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet also giving the song a take (Lyrics Johnny Mercer). Soundtracks were another area that Johnny excelled with contributions to over thirty productions including picking up an Academy Award (1965) for his tune from The Sandpiper, “The Shadow Of Your Smile”.

The band or Quintet comprise Zoot on tenor saxophone, Mike Wolford piano, organ (album does not list), Chuck Berghofer, bass with Nick Ceroli drumming and Victor Feldman only doing percussion and not piano. All of these musicians have a jaw dropping list of who they have played and appeared with, and have plenty of experience to contribute to the album’s input, just beautifully.

“Rissy” is first with Zoot coming straight in on this lovely mid tempo number in the opening theme and is followed by Zoot’s solo, when Mike Wolford introduces his contribution on piano it quickly flicks to organ ( not listed in album’s credits with Mike?)and back to his piano with Zoot contributing for the numbers end and theme. “A Time for Love” which many musicians listed above have covered is a lovely ballad with that Zoot fluidity that just seems to pour with every note beautifully inter-linked and not a spot out and when he hits that high and just drops back, does Jazz get any finer? “Cinnamon & Cloves” is just back to more of that superb Bop that Zoot could only play with another mid tempo composition that just not does have a flaw and quite a few little brilliant inputs to within Zoot’s solo and tune’s contribution with Mike Wolford’s piano just adding to this superbly played take. “Low Life”, “Zoot” with an obvious reference are other numbers included in the album with “Emily” following being another of those ballads comprising that Zoot fluid and is the longest composition within the album, running for just under ten minutes and another album highlight. The closing number on the record is the title “Quietly There” with even more beautiful West Coast sounding jazz and I am sure I am feeling a bit of ocean breeze with this one.

No new ground covered but “who cares” when Bop is played to such an extraordinarily beautiful high standard, as only a bunch of old blokes who have played this music all their life, can do. Sadly this was Zoot’s last album before his death the following year and quite a swan song it is. It is not often one can say this about artists last album’s and genuinely mean it. Also recommended from Zoot’s later period on the Pablo Label is his collaboration with Harry Sweet Edison “Just Friends”( !980). So “Who The Hell is Johnny Mandel”, well now you know.