As a jazz drummer, studio musician, bandleader and businessman, Shelly Manne was one of the mostprolific instrumentalists of modern times. “I’ve really had the best of both worlds,” he said in 1983.

He would use the quintet opposite some of the headliners on weekends - imagine seeing visiting name artists and Shelly's band all in the same night. But the piano playing of Russ Freeman was about to ...