Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jazz April Birthday: Herbie Mann

AP file photo

Herbie Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute and was jazz music's preeminent flautist during the 1960s, an early pioneer of the fusion of jazz and world music.

When Mann began playing flute in 1940s, there weren't many jazz flautists to learn from, no pioneers of jazz flute to idolize. He was forced to look elsewhere -- both inside and outside of jazz -- to develop his approach.  Mann was particularly drawn to rhythms and melodies from South America and the Caribbean, as well as the Middle East.  His pursuit of  the groove led to his popular R&B recordings, like "Memphis Underground."

"It became quite simple for me to go and look at different parts of the world. Every civilization had flute in their music, except American." --Herbie Mann

http://youtu.be/0bV18JHh3s8

Originally from Detroit, Robin Lloyd has been presenting jazz, blues and Latin jazz on public radio for nearly 40 years. She's a member of the Jazz Education Network and the Jazz Journalists Association.