Herbie Mann - Impressions Of The Middle East (1967) [2013]

Very groovy stuff -- and one of Herbie's best from the 60s! In a way, this album's very similar to some of the best Verve "groovy experimental" albums from the same period -- like some of Cal Tjader's Eastern/Latin work -- and it features Herbie playing with a wide range of instrumentation that includes oud, zither, harp, and lots of eastern percussion. Keeping things real, though, are some key jazzers like Roy Ayers, Julian Priester, and Jimmy Owens -- plus rhythm by Reggie Workman, Bruno Carr, and Patato Valdez. Tracks are very groovy -- with a mixture of jazz and exotic instrumentation -- and titles include "Turkish Coffee", "Odalisque", "Uskudar", "Eli Eli", and "Dance Of The Semites".
Dusty Groove


Tracks:

01 Turkish Coffee Mann 4:59
02 Incense Mann 7:17
03 Odalisque Mardin 7:41
04 Do Wah Diddy Diddy Barry, Greenwich 2:36
05 Uskьdar Traditional 3:36
06 The Oud and the Pussycat Mann 5:02
07 Yavuz Traditional 4:36
08 Dance of the Semites Mann 4:27
09 Eli Eli Traditional 3:57

Recorded on March 7-November 9, 1966

Personnel:

Bass - Reggie Workman (1-8), Richard Davis (9)
Clarinet - Hachig Thomas Kazarian (4, 5-8)
Congas - Carlos "Potato" Valdes (1-4, 6)
Drums - Bruno Carr (1-8)
Flugelhorn - Jimmy Owens (5,7,8)
Flute - Herbie Mann (1, 3, 4-9)
Oud - Chick Ganimian (1-8)
Percussion - Geraldine Swee (1-3) , Hachig Thomas Kazarian (1-3) , Moulay "Ali" Hafid (4,-8) , Robert Marashlian (4-8)
Trombone - Joe Orange (4, 6), Julian Priester (4, 6)
Trumpet - Jimmy Owens (4-8)
Vibraphone - Roy Ayers (1-3)
Zither - Mohamed Elakkad (4-8)
Guitar - Attila Zoller (4, 6)
Harp - Gloria Agostini (9)
Strings - Amahid Ajemian, Al Brown, Leo Kahn, Leo Kruczek, Charles Libove, David Mankowitz, Charles McCracken, Marvin Morgenstern, David Nadien, George Ockner, Raoul Poliakin, Max Pollikoff, George Ricci, Aaron Rosand, Tosha Samaroff, Al Schulman, Sylvan Schulman, Karen Tuttle, Emanuel Vardi, Jack Zayde (9)