3 CD set
Henry Mancini's response to the lounge-music fad whose beginnings coincided with his 1994 death is unknown, but his place near its center is hard to deny. The Days of Wine and Roses collects three CDs of often wonderful melodies (particularly on the composer's early work) and occasionally less-striking work-for-hire (the theme from What's Happening!). Irony aside, this box's soothing qualities and playful jazziness are worth investigating. --Rickey Wright
