Biography
Bud Shank, the altoist and flutist, first collaborated with Brazilian acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida in the 1950s on music that anticipated yet clearly foreshadowed bossa nova. The pair reconvened in 1974 to launch the L.A. Four, adding bassist Ray Brown and drummer Chuck Flores. Shelly Manne then assumed the drum chair in place of Flores, with Jeff Hamilton later taking over, as the group issued eight albums on Concord through 1982 before disbanding soon afterward. Its fusion of cool-toned bop, Brazilian-oriented music, and ballads proved consistently appealing.