Not a high water mark in
Herbie Mann's recorded output,
Mellow was released by Atlantic Records after dropping him from their roster. Made up primarily of outtakes from mid- to late-'70s recording sessions, the album sounds like the hodgepodge it is. Highlights include a take on
Milton Nascimento's "Cinnamon Flower" and a lengthy version of
Mann's classic "Memphis Underground," recorded at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival with guests
Sonny Fortune,
David Newman and the
Brecker Brothers. The low point arrives with the opening track, a cover of Bob Marley's "Bend Down Low" left over from the
Reggae sessions, in which
Mann actually sings the lead vocal. ~ Jim Newsom