Bud Shank

Bud Shank on vinyl: West Coast jazz and bossa nova

In short: Bud Shank (1926–2009) played alto saxophone and flute and belonged to the West Coast jazz circle in Los Angeles. In the early fifties he recorded music with the Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida that combined jazz and Brazilian rhythms – years before bossa nova conquered the world. The Vinyl Room currently has 10 Bud Shank records.

What makes Bud Shank special?

His tone was light and clear, on flute as on saxophone. The records with Laurindo Almeida are regarded as an early meeting of jazz and Brazilian music; with pianist Clare Fischer came “Bossa Nova Jazz Samba”, plus “Bud Shank & His Brazilian Friends”.

Bud Shank also liked to play music from film and pop: he wrote “Barefoot Adventure” for a surf film, played Beatles songs on “Magical Mystery” and music by Michel Legrand on “Windmills Of Your Mind”. Many people know his flute without knowing it – from The Mamas & The Papas’ “California Dreamin’”.

From our stock

First pressings

Records by Bud Shank

→ Pacific Jazz · Cool jazz · Bossa nova · Jazz on vinyl

FAQ

Which instrument did Bud Shank play? Alto saxophone and flute.

What did Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida do together? Recordings in the early fifties that combine jazz with Brazilian music – long before the bossa nova wave.

Did Bud Shank play on “California Dreamin’”? Yes, the flute solo on The Mamas & The Papas’ recording (1965) is his.

Which records do you have? Mostly albums from the fifties and sixties – 10 records in all.