Tribute to Henry Mancini

By TODD EVERETT

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Tribute to Henry Mancini (Hollywood Bowl; 17,619 seats; $ 60 top)
 
Host: Andy Williams. Vocalists: Gregory Lawrence Jefferson, Monica Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Michael Nouri, Trisha Yearwood. Conductors: Bill Conti, Jack Elliott, Ian Fraser, Quincy Jones, Scott Lavender, Peter Nero, Mark Watters. Band: Sid Page, Don Menza, Cecil Welch, Michael Clinco, Abraham Laboriel, Jack Gilfoy, members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Reviewed June 30, 1996. Henry Mancini performed 29 concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, and Sunday night's benefit for the Bowl Fund may have been one of the year's most easily predictable shows: the singing and guest-conductor stars are all first-rate; the production was top-notch; and, of course, the material is famously easy to take. About the only question was at what point in the tribute to the late composer would Andy Williams sing "Moon River."
It was the host's last number, as it turned out, after two hours of smooth
 

The show was so predictable that many of the highlights consisted of Mancini's lesser-known works -- the perky march "Sons of Italy" and faux-country "Oklahoma Crude," for instance, or two showcases for 18-year-old flutist Gregory Lawrence Jefferson, "Speedy Gonzales" (not the Pat Boone hit) and "Cameo for Flute."

TX:Presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. Produced by Pierre Cossette. A trio of songs from "Victor/Victoria" was performed admirably by Michael Nouri (in from the Broadway run) and Mancini's daughter, Monica.

Saxophonist Don Menza gave his own spin to Plas Johnson's classic "Pink Panther" solo, and three songs from the least likely name on the bill prompted a generous comment from Mathis: "Doesn't Trisha Yearwood sing great?" Not one of Mancini's lyricists -- a distinguished crew that included Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, Leslie Bricusse and Johnny Mercer -- was mentioned during the course of the evening, and only Quincy Jones announced any of the soloists. Arrangers were unbilled.

If they were Mancini's own charts, why so many conductors, and if not, why not credit the responsible hands?

One suspects that Mancini himself would have been more generous in passing out kudos to his collaborators.

Music, most of it almost as familiar as Williams' signature tune.