About

The Mann Sextet was borne of an idea, that a small group could sound larger than the sum of its parts. Back in 2013 I was looking for arrangements and personnel that could fulfill that promise, and found it in Paul McDonald, one of the best jazz/standard arrangers and keyboardists in Los Angeles. We've since played most of the major clubs in the LA area, including Herb Alpert's Vibrato Jazz Grill and Catalina Grill Jazz. 
 
For Standard Issue, we added arrangements from band member trombonist extraordinaire Duane "Ben-Jammin " Benjamin, and Harry Smallenburg, who did our big band arrangement of my tune, Lullabye-Bye. 

I'm proud to have had our special guest, and old friend, Patrice Rushen on two cuts. You were gracious, generous, astounding! Thank you Patrice.
 
Other personnel include Grammy nominee Sammy "K" Kestenholtz on drums, Grammy winner Kevin O'Neal on bass for two cuts, reed man Michael Parlett, baritone sax, percussion and tenor sax, Jeff Takiguchi on bass, and Dan Heffernan on tenor sax. 

Special thanks to engineer, mixer and master'er of Standard Issue, Mike Parlett and Talented Productions and studio, and for lending me his excellent Psych! Big Band for the Lullabye-Bye cut.  And to Gary Bivona for hosting that recording and solo session. 

Additional thanks to Lew Soloff, Uan Rasey, and Tom Scott. all of whom I miss terribly; Herb Alpert, Arturo Sandoval, and so many more for their inspiration. To Rich Wetzel at Conn-Selmer for sponsoring me as a Bach Stradivarius artist, my in-laws Barbara and Don Rickles for coming to EVERY gig we did, and most of all, my loving wife Mindy and my kids Ethan and Harrison who learned to vacate the premises daily so I could practice, and most of all, my parents, Mort and Gerre Mann.