Herbert Jay Sololmon, 16 April 1930, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 1 July 2003, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. After learning to play the clarinet while still a small child, Mann took up the flute. He developed his musical experience during military service. After leaving the US army, he was active in film and television studios as both performer and composer. He played in several small jazz groups during the late 50s, including his own Afro-Jazz Sextet with which he toured internationally. Early in the 60s, his interest in Brazilian music led to a series of profitable recordings, notably ‘Coming Home Baby’. Although rooted in bop and recording with leading jazzmen such as Bill Evans, by the late 60s, Mann’s writing and playing had broadened to include musical influences from many lands - especially those of the Middle East. He was also open-minded about rock and by the early 70s was a leading figure in jazz rock fusion. Indeed, his wide acceptance of areas of popular music outside jazz created some difficulties of categorization, especially when he embraced, however briefly, reggae and disco pop. He became one of the widest-known flautists in jazz, gaining a considerable measure of credibility for an instrument that has always had an uncertain status in jazz circles. In addition to his performing and writing, Mann had also been active as a record producer, running his own label, Embryo, under the Atlantic Records aegis. Subsequently, he formed his own independent labels, Kokopelli Music and Herbie Mann Music. In 1989, Mann moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico after having spent the majority of his life in New York. Despite being diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer in 1997 Mann remained busy, writing music for his new group Sona Terra that included his son Geoff on drums.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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Herbert Jay Sololmon, 16 April 1930, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 1 July 2003, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. After learning to play the clarinet while still a small child, Mann took up the flute. He developed his musical experience during military service. After leaving the US army, he was active in film and television studios as both performer and composer. He played in several small jazz groups during the late 50s, including his own Afro-Jazz Sextet with which he toured internationally. Early in the 60s, his interest in Brazilian music led to a series of profitable recordings, notably ‘Coming Home Baby’. Although rooted in bop and recording with leading jazzmen such as Bill Evans, by the late 60s, Mann’s writing and playing had broadened to include musical influences from many lands - especially those of the Middle East. He was also open-minded about rock and by the early 70s was a leading figure in jazz rock fusion. Indeed, his wide acceptance of areas of popular music outside jazz created some difficulties of categorization, especially when he embraced, however briefly, reggae and disco pop. He became one of the widest-known flautists in jazz, gaining a considerable measure of credibility for an instrument that has always had an uncertain status in jazz circles. In addition to his performing and writing, Mann had also been active as a record producer, running his own label, Embryo, under the Atlantic Records aegis. Subsequently, he formed his own independent labels, Kokopelli Music and Herbie Mann Music. In 1989, Mann moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico after having spent the majority of his life in New York. Despite being diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer in 1997 Mann remained busy, writing music for his new group Sona Terra that included his son Geoff on drums.