Herbie Mann

American jazz flutist, tenor saxophonist, clarinetist & bass clarinetist. He branched out to latin jazz, reggae and disco, to name some of the styles he explored. Mann also established Embryo Records (1969-1977) and Kokopelli Records (mid. '90s). Born April 16, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, died July 01, 2003 in Pecos, New Mexico First began playing professionally at the age of fifteen. After serving in the U.S. Army overseas in the early 50's, Mann recorded for Bethlehem Records and was among the group of reed players to first utilize the flute as a main voice in jazz. During this time he still played multiple instruments in the bop/cool jazz idioms but explored what became known as world music early on. He eventually became the first American jazz artist to record in the Bossa Nova style during the early 1960's, abandoning other reed instruments to focus on flutes. During the late 1960`s, when Miles Davis was fusing rock with jazz, he began fusing Southern rock and soul with jazz which led to the hit album Memphis Underground. Herbie began getting involved with the newly emerging disco scene when he covered LTG Exchange's "Waterbed" which appeared on the album of the same name. It's a very funky instrumental with a great bassline. On this album he also covered "Hijack" by Barrabas. This became popular in the early disco scene in the UK and was one of the very first 12" promos ever pressed in Europe. Another disco recording was his cover of Celi Bee's "Superman" theme which peaked at #26 on the US Billboard charts. For this album, called "Super Mann," Herbie worked with New York disco producer Patrick Adams and together they wrote the jazz-funk classic "Etagui". Father of jazz drummer & arranger Geoff Mann.