Tracksounds Rating = 8/10

Composed by Lalo Schifrin
Produced by Wolfgang Hirschmann & Lalo Schifrin
Executive Producer Donna Schifrin
Released by Aleph Records 1999

Among the very best of composer Lalo Schifrin's huge portfolio of television themes is the private-eye series, Mannix.  Around the time of Mannix, Lalo Schifrin seemed to dominate the television world with his flashy and unheard of time signatured- music.  His musical handiwork has become some of the most identifiable ever and is intricately woven into the fabric of some of our most watched television series:  The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission Impossible, Medical Center, and Starsky and Hutch to name a few.   All of these demonstrated the aggressive flare that could only come from Schifrin.  Along with Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin  introduced "cool" to American television.

Mannix, the TV-series, ran some eight seasons and ranked among the top 20 on TV during most of its life-span.  The series also reunited Mission: Impossible executive producer Bruce Geller with the same series' composer, Schifrin.  It was a combination that obviously worked well.

This latest collection of tunes from the television series has presented the composer with another opportunity to refine and expand his already scintillating work.  This Aleph release features four new pieces developed from his original musical concepts for the show some 30 years ago!

This CD release begins with the unforgettable main title.  This track sets a wonderful tone for the entire CD- crisply recorded, flawlessly performed, up tempo, jazz.  Track 16 features an extended version of the main title as well.  This version allows the musicians to further exhibit their skills with piano solos, sax solos, and drum solos, before returning to and concluding with the main groove.

This CD released by Aleph Records, a label started by Lalo Schifrin's wife, Donna, in 1997, features high energy pieces crafted for the ever-present chase scenes of sixties/seventies television.  

Tracks that demonstrate Cool-TV at its best are: The Shadow (track 3) with its do-whoppin' vocals, Hammond b-3, and funk rhythms; the bosa-nova influenced track 4, Sao Paolo After Dark; track 5, Turn Every Stone, with its deep saxophone accents, and the bright The Girl Who Came in with the Tide (track 8).

The only unfortunate inclusion is the final track, Mannix Mixdown.  Trying to modernize Lalo's classic style is about as logical as modernizing the Sistine Chapel.  This horrid attempt at a hip-hop version of the main theme is a complete failure.  Fans of Lalo Schifrin's smooth jazz flavors are certainly not going to be into this track and those that this track might appeal to would certainly never make it through the preceding 16 tracks of cool jazz.  If there is a positive spin on this particular track, it's that it has mercifully been placed at the very end of the disc, making for easy skippin'. 

A much smaller draw back is the easily identifiable synthesized elements in about 5 tracks.  A compromise easily overlooked in light of the overall brilliance of the disc.  If you are a fan of music from classic television-series or jazz, then this unforgettable music from Lalo Schifrin is a must!

Category

Score

Music Selection

Themes/ Composition

CD Length

Track Order

Performance

Final Score

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Composer
Lalo Schifrin

Other than the main theme, most of the tracks also have a "make your head keep nodding" rhythm and very catchy and enjoyable melodies. You just want to whistle or hum along with them every time...The CD just gives a great listening experience in general. It is definitely a frequent spinner in my stereo. Fans of the big band from the 60s and 70s, this is a CD that you cannot miss. ****

Yu Lui - Film Score Magic

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