Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite

gianlucacaronia

Review by Gianluca Caronia

Album Review: The Drum Suite by Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre Jazz fans, buckle up. The Drum Suite, a gem from the Contemporary Jazz scene, is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released under RCA in France, this collaboration between Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins feels like a masterclass in rhythm and creativity. With liner notes penned by John S. Wilson, the album dives deep into percussive storytelling, blending intricate arrangements with moments of pure improvisational magic. Now, let’s talk tracks. The opening piece, "Premier Mouvement: Dancers On Drums," sets the tone right away. It's punchy, playful, and kinda hypnotic. You can almost picture dancers leaping across a stage as the drums take center stage. What sticks with me is how the orchestra builds layers—just when you think it’s gonna settle into a groove, it shifts again. It’s unpredictable but never chaotic, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. Then there’s "Sixième Mouvement: The Octopus." If any track deserves a spotlight, it’s this one. The name says it all; it feels like an octopus wriggling its tentacles through your ears. There’s this wild interplay between brass and percussion that keeps you guessing. At times, it’s brassy and bold, while other moments feel slippery and smooth. I kept replaying this track because it just doesn’t sit still—it evolves every time you listen closely. One thing worth mentioning is how cohesive the whole project feels despite its complexity. Each movement flows seamlessly into the next, creating a narrative arc that feels intentional yet spontaneous. It’s not background music—it demands your attention, and honestly, it rewards you for giving it. Here’s the kicker: The Drum Suite isn’t just jazz; it’s jazz with personality. It reminds me of those late-night conversations where no one wants to leave because the vibe is just too good. And maybe that’s why it sticks. Listening to this album feels less like hearing music and more like being part of something alive, something breathing. So yeah, if you’re into jazz—or even if you’re not—this one’s worth a spin. Just don’t expect it to play nice. It’ll grab hold of you and refuse to let go. Funny enough, the only downside might be trying to explain to someone why you’ve listened to “that octopus song” five times in a row. Trust me, it happens.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: manny-albam-ernie-wilkins-et-leur-orchestre-the-drum-suite.zip
  • MP3 size: 32.4 mb
  • FLAC size: 223.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Troisième Mouvement: Chant Of The Witch Doctors6:28
Premier Mouvement: Dancers On Drums5:17
Quatrième Mouvement: Skinning The Valves6:03
Cinquième Mouvement: Cymbalisms7:30
Second Mouvement: Bristling5:19
Sixième Mouvement: The Octopus5:58

Video

The Drum Suite - First Movement-Dancers on Drums 1956

Images

lataa albumi Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite
baixar álbum Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite
Album herunterladen Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite
ladda ner album Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite
télécharger l'album Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre - The Drum Suite

Catalog Numbers

430.254 (LPM 1279)

Labels

RCA

Listen online

  • ascolta in linea
  • lyssna på nätet
  • lytte på nettet
  • ouvir online
  • online anhören
  • escuchar en línea
  • écouter en ligne
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • online luisteren

Formats

  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album
  • Mono

Companies

RoleCompany
Printed ByGenèse Imp. Paris

Credits

RoleCredit
Liner NotesJohn S. Wilson

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Only On Side A): 71G2JP 3578 1D1
  • Label Code (Side A, On Label): 7/IG2JP 3578
  • Label Code (Side B, On Label): 7/IG2JP 3579

About Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre

Name Vars

  • Manny Albam - Ernie Wilkins & Their Orchestra
  • Manny Albam - Ernie Wilkins And Their Orchestra
  • Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins And Their Orchestra
  • Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins Et Leur Orchestre
  • Manny Albam-Ernie Wilkins And Their Orchestra

Members

  • Ernie Wilkins

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *The Drum Suite* by Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins is like a jazz journey through sound. It’s not just your typical jazz record—it’s got this cinematic vibe, almost like a story told in six movements. Each track feels like its own little world. For instance, "Sixième Mouvement: The Octopus" sounds exactly how you’d imagine an octopus would feel—slippery, mysterious, and full of life. And get this—it was recorded in France under the RCA label, which adds to its European jazz charm. Fun detail: the liner notes were written by John S. Wilson, who really knew how to capture the soul of music with words.

Comments

songhongcang
songhongcang
2025-03-10
Segun Joachim Berendt, los bateristas que participan son: Osie Johnson, Gus Johnson, Teddy Sommer y Don Lamond. Espero que alguien suba la suite completa.
sharkyx
sharkyx
2025-03-09
Yes indeed would be great if you uploaded the other 5 parts as well. The Ernie Wilkins Almost Big Band is going to perform the drum suite at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
max2584
max2584
2025-03-08
The marvelous compositions of Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins.
ambitiouslycreative
ambitiouslycreative
2025-03-08
Upload the rest of the album. The remaining five tracks constitute some of the finest ensemble writing of that period in jazz and it continues to be exemplary to this day
manwong69
manwong69
2025-03-07
I had this in vinyl when it was initially issued and have kept it in CD ever since.
I never get tired of listening to it.
Thanks for putting this up.