Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 - July 1, 2003), better known as Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flutist and important pracitioner of world music. Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute, and was perhaps jazz musics preeminent flautist during the 1960s.

In 1958 he added a conga player to his band and incorporated elements of African music. In 1961 Mann took a tour of Brazil and returned the United States to record with Brazilian players. These albums helped popularize the bossa nova. Many of his albums throughout his career returned to Brazilian themes. Mann hired a young Chick Corea to play in some of his bands.

Mann also recorded music in reggae, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European styles. A number of disco-style smooth jazz records in the 1970s brought some criticism from jazz purists, but helped Mann remain active during a period of declining interest in jazz.

Additionally, Mann had a number of songs cross over to the pop charts, rather rare for a jazz musician. A 1998 interview reported that "At least 25 Herbie Mann albums have made the top 200 pop charts, success denied most of his jazz peers." [1] http://www.jimnewsom.com/hm-articles.html

He founded his own record label "Kokopelli Records" after difficulty with established labels. He later left this label, too. He recorded over 100 albums in his career.

Mann was quite prolific, and performed often: His first gig was playing in the Catskills at age 15; his last on May 3, 2003 was the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at age 73.

Partial Discography

• African Suite (1959)
• Herbie Mann At the Village Gate (1962)
• Do the Bossa Nova
• Brazil Bossa Nova & Blues (1962)
• Herbie Mann/Joao Gilberto/Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Latin Mann (1965)
• Nirvana
• Impressions of the Middle East
• The Wailing Dervishes
• Reggae
• Memphis Two Step (1971)
• Memphis Underground
• Push Push
• Jasil Brazz
• Deep Pocket
• Opalescence
• Peace Pieces
• Celebration
• America Brazil
• Sona Terra
• Eastern European Roots (2000)