Herbie Mann

Origin

Nova Iorque, NY

Years Active

1953–2003

Genres

jazz, bossa nova, latin jazz, world music, jazz fusion, disco

Instruments

flute, tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet

Biography

Herbert Jay Solomon, better known as Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flutist, born in New York on April 16, 1930. His musical career spanned five decades, during which he stood out as a pioneer in fusing jazz with rhythms from various cultures, especially Brazilian music. Mann explored bossa nova in the early 1960s, recording in Brazil in 1962 with renowned musicians such as Antônio Carlos Jobim and Sérgio Mendes. This foray resulted in influential albums that helped popularize the genre in the United States and Europe.

Throughout his career, Herbie Mann demonstrated remarkable versatility, incorporating elements of African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern music into his work. This cosmopolitan approach led him to experiment with diverse styles, including disco, as evidenced by his 1975 hit "Hijack," which reached number one on the Billboard dance charts. Despite being criticized by some jazz purists, Mann maintained a commercially successful career, with over 25 albums appearing on the pop charts.

Herbie Mann passed away on July 1, 2003, in Pecos, New Mexico, after a battle with prostate cancer. His work left a significant legacy in instrumental music, being remembered as an innovative musician who expanded the boundaries of jazz and promoted cultural exchange through his music. His influence can be felt in artists who continue to explore genre fusion and incorporate global elements into their compositions.

Discography

• East Coast Jazz /4 (1955)
• Herbie Mann Plays (1956)
• Herbie Mann / Bobby Jaspar – Flute Soufflé (1957)
• Salute To The Flute (1957)
• Herbie Mann With The Wessel Ilcken Combo – Salute To The Flute (1957)
• The Magic Flute Of Herbie Mann (1957)
• Yardbird Suite (1957)
• Herbie Mann — Buddy Collette – Flute Fraternity (1957)
• Herbie Mann And Bobby Jaspar – Flute Flight (1957)
• Sahib Shihab / Herbie Mann – The Jazz We Heard Last Summer (1957)
• Mann Alone (1957)
• Sultry Serenade (1957)
• Mann In The Morning (1958)
• Herbie Mann, Charlie Rouse, Kenny Burrell, Mal Waldron – Just Wailin' (1958)
• St. Thomas (1959)
• Flautista! Herbie Mann Plays Afro-Cuban Jazz (1959)
• Gone Native (1961)
• The Family Of Mann (The Music Of Herbie Mann) (1961)
• Herbie Mann Sings (1961)
• Herbie Mann At The Village Gate (1962)
• Do The Bossa Nova (1962)
• Right Now (1962)
• Laurence Harvey, Herbie Mann – This Is My Beloved (1962)
• La Vern Baker / Chris Connor / Herbie Mann / Bobby Short – Richard Rodgers' No Strings. An After-Theatre Version (1962)
• Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues (1962)
• Live At Newport (1963)
• Afro Jazziac Featuring Herbie Mann (1963)
• Herbie Mann Returns To The Village Gate (1963)
• Latin Fever (1964)
• Herbie Mann & The Bill Evans Trio – Nirvana (1964)
• The Roar Of The Greasepaint- The Smell Of The Crowd (1965)
• Latin Mann (Afro To Bossa To Blues) (1965)
• Herbie Mann's Big Band (1965)
• My Kinda Groove (1965)
• Standing Ovation At Newport (1965)
• Today! (1966)
• Monday Night At The Village Gate (1966)
• New Mann At Newport (1966)
• Our Mann Flute (1966)
• A Live Mann From Brazil (1966)
• The Herbie Mann String Album (1967)
• The Beat Goes On (1967)
• Glory Of Love (1967)
• Impressions Of The Middle East (1967)
• Herbie Mann & Tamiko Jones – A Mann & A Woman (1967)
• The Wailing Dervishes (1968)
• The Inspiration I Feel (1968)
• Windows Opened (1968)
• Memphis Underground (1969)
• Live At The Whisky A Go Go (1969)
• Concerto Grosso In D Blues (1969)
• Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty (1970)
• Stone Flute (1970)
• Memphis Two-Step (1971)
• Push Push (1971)
• Mississippi Gambler (1972)
• Let Me Tell You (1973)
• Hold On, I'm Comin' (1973)
• The Hank Jones Trio With Guests . . . Joe Wilder, Donald Byrd, Herbie Mann, Jerome Richardson, Matty Dice, Kenny Clarke, Wendell Marshall – Bluebird (1973)
• Turtle Bay (1973)
• London Underground (1974)
• Reggae (1974)
• Waterbed (1975)
• Reggae II (1976)
• Surprises (1976)
• Gagaku & Beyond (1976)
• Bird In A Silver Cage (1976)
• Super Mann (1978)
• Sunbelt (1979)
• Astral Island (1983)
• Caminho de Casa (1990)
• America/Brasil (1997)
• Peace Pieces (1997)
• Celebration (Live at the Blue Note in New York City) (1997)
• Herbie Mann & Sona Terra / Eastern European Roots (2002)
• Beyond Brooklyn (2004)
• Discotheque (2005)
• Mellow (2005)
• Brazil: Once Again (2005)
• Yellow Fever (2005)
• Herbie Mann & Fire Island (2005)
• Love and the Weather (2013)
• Milestones of Jazz Legends: Jazz Around the World, Vol. 3 (2018)
• Milestones of New Jazz Masters - Yeah!, Vol. 8 (2019)
• Underground (2025)