Record collection revisited: Herbie Mann "Push, Push"

Flautist Herbie Mann's 1971 record "Push Push" is an interesting amalgamation of R&B and jazz.  One would think that an instrument like the saxophone would fit into this equation.  Well, Mann thought differently and was an accomplished jazz flautist.  Several notable studio musicians played on this album and each song featured different band lineups but with most of the same players.  Guitarists Duane Allman (just profiled in the last entry), Cornell Dupree and David Spinoza, were joined by keyboardist Richard Tee (playing piano and organ), bassists Jerry Jemmott, Chuck Rainey and Donald "Duck" Dunn (from Booker T & the MG's), and drummers Bernard Purdie and Al Jackson Jr.

The record has a great groove on a lot of the songs especially on the first, and title track, "Push Push" where Tee, Allman, Rainey and Purdie all lock in on a great groove.  The same can be said for the last track called "Funky Nassau".  A lot of the other cuts are a bit mellower.  But, the musicians really play to serve the tunes.  The album cover is quite suggestive, however.  Mann was someone who wasn't afraid to deal with his sexuality through his music.  He was an open, free spirited individual.  The album cover shows a picture of Mann, bare chested and holding his flute over one shoulder.  There was some controversy with the picture of Mann on the album when it was first released because it seemed sexually explicit. 

Mann felt that the groove was the most important part of his music and that's the hallmark of the title cut of this record, "Push Push" as Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie really lock in with each other and at the same time, Herbie Mann and Duane Allman and Richard Tee contribute their own soulfulness to the song.  Allman's guitar solo is searing and is very representative of how he played in the Allman Brothers, albeit, this time, sans slide.

Mann had his own record label (Embryo Records) for which he record.  But, the label also featured other musicians such as legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter and original Weather Report bassist Miroslav Vitous (whose first solo record was released by Embryo).  Additionally, Mann is well known to have played with legendary Latin jazz musicians Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto.

1. Push Push
2. What's Going On
3. Spirit In The Dark
4. Man's Hope
5. If
6. Never Can Say Goodbye
7. What'd I Say
8. Funky Nassau

Despite the sheer repulsiveness (by some tastes) of the album cover, this record in terms of the musical material is definitely worth a listen, especially because of the grooves that do exist on most of the songs.  This record could be considered jazz fusion.  But it definitely has more of an R&B flavor if Mann's flute work is not taken into account and a listener just purely hears the interplay of the rhythm section, and Duane Allman's guitar work.