In 1955 Herbie Mann recorded his first album with the Mat Matthews Quintet. The critics disliked Mann's sound back in the fifties. As a teenager , Mann started playing on the tenor saxophone. Mann was introduced to jazz flute when Mat Matthews started a jazz band and needed a jazz flutist. Mann put his name forward even though he knew very little about the style of jazz flute. Mann convinced Matthews to let him play by tricking him. Mann said that his flute was currently being repaired and that in the meantime he would learn the part on the saxophone. Over the next few years Mann created his own distinct jazz sound. Mann was the first jazz flute player to have a career completely focused on the jazz flute.