Polka Dots And Moonbeams - Gerry Mulligan

Polka Dots And Moonbeams - Gerry Mulligan https://t.co/KhDs5L9QBK via @YouTube

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#MilesDavis #JohnColtrane #ChetBaker #BillEvans #SonnyRollins #BillieHoliday pic.twitter.com/rwaRULMAYp

— jazzbreak (@JazzBreak1) March 13, 2019

interviews with Rose Marie, Jenifer Lewis ....

At JazzWax this weekend, links to my interviews with Rose Marie, Jenifer Lewis, Ashley Judd and Bernard King, plus Count Basie, Jon Hendricks, Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Stitt and more... https://t.co/CmZgQOJGUH pic.twitter.com/swOef1gIo5

— Marc Myers (@JazzWax) November 25, 2017

Mulligan, Brubeck & Desmond

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Yesterday, I came across a terrific video of All the Things You Are by the Dave Brubeck Trio, featuring baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Despite the date on the clip, it was more likely recorded in October 1972 while the group was on a Newport Jazz Festival tour in Rotterdam and filmed by Dutch television. [Photo above, from left, of Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond]

These guys knew each other well. Desmond, of course, had been a key member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet from the early 1950s up until 1967. Desmond and Mulligan recorded together frequently—in 1957 (Blues in Time), in 1962 (Two of a Mind) and in 1969 (Belleto). And prior to this European performance, Brubeck, Desmond and Mulligan had performed together plenty of times, including at the Newport Jazz Festival in1955 and in 1969 at a White House tribute to Duke Ellington. [Photo above of Paul Desmond, left, and Gerry Mulligan]

Here's the jaw-dropping performance of All the Things You Are by Dave Brubeck (p), Paul Desmond (as), Gerry Mulligan (bar), Jack Six (b) and Alan Dawson (d)...

Used with permission by Marc Myers

Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band

Published on Feb 17, 2016
Baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan performing Bill Holman's arrangement of "Out of this World" with solos by Gerry and Don Ferrara and Conte Candoli on trumpet.

Gerry Mulligan - "A Writer's Credo"

Steven A. Cerra

“Mulligan has been closely involved in the entire history of modern jazz orchestration, and younger fans, who know him primarily as a baritone saxophonist, are unaware of it. Yet it was as a writer that he gained his broadest early acceptance, and some of the arrangements he wrote for Gene Krupa— and an original for Stan Kenton called Young Blood —  are well-remembered classics.” - Gene Lees, Jazz author, critic and producer of the JazzLetter

"Chet was one of the best intuitive musicians I've ever seen. We used to get some remarkable things going. I remember one night at the Haig in Los Angeles, nobody called a tune all evening. As a tune ended, someone would noodle with another melody, and we would all go into the same thing. We'd play for an hour and a half that way, take a break, and go on and do it again. It never let up. It was one of the most exciting evenings of playing I can remember." - Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophonist, composer-arranger, bandleader

 "Then, too, to be honest, I find writing very frustrating. I'm a slow writer, because I'm trying always to think what it will feel like to play it in various situations. There's too much in jazz writing that doesn't move well. They haven't learned from the simplifying that we did with that nine-piece band with Miles, when we got it down to the fewest necessary elements.” - Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophonist, composer-arranger, bandleader

 "What I came back to is that jazz is a music to be played and not to be intellectualized on.” - Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophonist, composer-arranger, bandleader

read more: http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com.br/2015/07/gerry-mulligan-writers-credo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+JazzProfiles+(Jazz+Profiles)

Gerry Mulligan: Mosaic Select

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Gerry Mulligan is easily one of jazz's most underrated artists and composer-arrangers. The word "underrated" may seem strange when applied to an established monster like Mulligan, but think about it: Here's a guy who arranged for Gene Krupa, Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis and Elliot Lawrence before heading West in 1952 and starting the piano-less quartet with Chet Baker.

Then came  his ambitious tentet followed by his swinging sextet with Bob Brookmeyer and Zoot Sims—all while arranging for Stan Kenton and many others. And this is before his concert band. Not nearly enough has been said in praise of this baritone saxophonist and how his pen influenced all corners of jazz over time.

A box that supports all of the statements made above is Mosaic Select: Gerry Mulligan(Mosaic Records), a three-CD set that features his work for Pacific Jazz at the end of 1957 in New York. Remastered here areGerry Mulligan Quartet Reunion With Chet Baker, The Gerry Mulligan Songbook, Gerry Mulligan with the Vinnie Burke String Quartet and Annie Ross Sings a Song With Mulligan.

What makes this set particularly special is that the stereo Songbooktracks are released here for the first time (the single CD that has been out for years features only mono tracks) and that five previously unreleased Vinnie Burke tracks are now in place.

At this point you're probably wondering when these albums were recorded. All in December 1957, which further proves my point made at the top of this post. Dig this: Mulligan records part of Reunion on Dec. 3. On the 4th and 5th he records Songbook. But there's time left on the 5th so he records all nine of the tracks for the Burke date. On the 8th, he's at CBS taping The Sound of Jazz. On the 11th and 15th, he finishes the Reunionsession and records all of theAnnie Ross tracks. That's 13 days of intensive, flawless recording. What did you do over the past two weeks? [Photo at top, right, of Gerry Mulligan by Bob Willoughby]

Reunion is pure poetry. On tracks like Travelin' Light, Mulligan is in the sub-basement of his instrument, creating a delightful set up for Baker's spare, pensive trumpet. Jersey Bounce, The Song Is You and Star Dust are particularly well executed. Bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Dave Bailey round out the quartet. 

Songbook was arranged by Bill Holman and features one of the great sax sections: Lee Konitz, Allen Eager, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and Mulligan. The stereo tracks have a bit more dimension than the mono ones, and the reedy fugue-like counterpoint is exciting and exceptional.

Vinnie Burke String Quartet is fascinating on many levels. Though an arranger isn't listed, one assumes Mulligan handled those duties given how cleverly the guitar, violin, cello and bass were scored. What's more, the arrangements never allow the group to sound classical. Instead, the violin and cello have almost a brass feel as they work in and out of their lines. While four tracks appeared on the mono release on Songbook, Body and Soul, I'll Remember April, Lullaby in Rhythm, Out of Nowhere and I Can't Get Started are here for the first time. They were part of a project called Stringtime, which for some reason was never released.

Annie Ross Sings a Song With Mulligan was recorded by Rossjust after Sing a Song of Basiewrapped and just before the album made her, Dave Lambert and Jon Hendricks a vocalese singing sensation.This Time the Dream's on Me, The Lady's in Love With You, I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans, This Is Always and I've Grown Accustomed to His Face are major works and one happy marriage between vocalist and instrumentalists.

Ross [pictured] was on top of her game in '57, and she sounds lithe and relaxed—as though she's sitting on Mulligan's lap andabsentmindedly twirling his hair with a finger. But the more you hear this session, the more you realize how difficult it must have been to sing in this care-free fashion with only Mulligan, Baker, Grimes and Bailey wandering around in the background on their instruments.

Ultimately, Mulligan's Pacific Jazz sessions from December 1957 provide us with a startling snapshot that demonstrates in a two-week period just how extraordinary Mulligan was and remains.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Mosaic Select: Gerry Mulligan(Mosaic Records), a three-CD set,here.

JazzWax clip: From an LP copy ofAnnie Ross Sings a Song With Mulligan, here she is singing The Lady's in Love With You backed by Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Henry Grimes and Dave Bailey... - Used with permission by Marc Myers

Gerry Mulligan

The Subterraneans:


Here is an album that showcases the many talents of Andre Previn, composer-conductor-arranger-andpianist. His versatility further extends into the performance fields where he is just as much at home with jazz, the blues, popular music and with the classics. One week, Andre may be heard playing jazz in a swank night club; the following week, he will be performing with one of the great symphony orchestras; and a little later on, you will find him conducting for a top Hollywood motionpicture score. He is familiar to television viewers because of his guest appearances with Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Steve Allen, Ernie Ford, Ernie Kovacs, Rosemary Clooney and others. Andre has won Motion Picture Academy Awards for "Gigi" and for "Porgy and Bess." He also won a Grammy Award for his work with David Rose on the M-G-M record, "Like Young," a song which Mr. Previn composed.Another award-winner spotlighted in the album is Gerry Mulligan who has won the International Jazz Critics Award as the best baritone saxophone player for 1957, 1958 and 1959. Gerry also plays a feature acting role in "The Subterraneans." This long-playing record is a collection of Previn's original compositions (except for "Cofee Time" and for "Should I") from the sound track of Arthur Freed's Production "The Subterraneans" played by small, medium and large orchestras with solos by some of the foremost jazz artists in the country. - from gerrymulligan.info

I Want to Live:
Baritonist Gerry Mulligan and a group of West Coast all-stars were heard throughout the soundtrack of the Susan Hayward movie I Want to Live. Although not a soundtrack, this LP features six themes from the movie (all composed by Johnny Mandel) performed by the same musicians, who this time around get an opportunity to really stretch out. Since the band is comprised of Mulligan, trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Bud Shank, trombonist Frank Rossolino, pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Shelly Manne, virtually all of the music is quite interesting with plenty of fine solos and hard-swinging. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

Artist: Gerry Mulligan
Album: The Jazz Soundtracks (The Subterraneans/I Want to Live)
Year: 1959-58
Label: Gambit (2007)
Total time: 67:04

Personnel:
Gerry Mulligan (Baritone Saxophone)
Art Pepper (Alto Saxophone) - 1,3,4,6,8-10,12
Red Mitchell (Double Bass) - 1,3,6,8,10,12-18
Shelly Manne (Drums) - 1-3,5-8,10-18
Andre Previn (Piano, Arranger) - 1-11
Jack Sheldon (Trumpet) - 1,3,6,8,10,12
Bob Enevoldsen (Trombone) - 1,3,4,6,8-10
Bill Perkins (Tenor Saxophone) - 1,3,6,8,10
Art Farmer (Trumpet) - 4,9,13-18
Carmen McRae (Vocals) - 2,5,7,11
Bud Shank (Alto Saxophone) - 13-18
Frank Rosolino (Trombone) - 13-18
Pete Jolly (Piano) - 13-18
Johnny Mandel (Arranger) - 13-18
Buddy Clark (Double Bass) - 4,9
Dave Bailey (Drums) - 4,9
Russ Freeman (Piano) - 4,9,12

Tracks:
1. Why Are We Afraid? (Andre Previn) 1:57
2. Guido's Blackhawk (Andre Previn) 3:05
3. Two by Two (Andre Previn) 3:57
4. Bread and Wine (Andre Previn) 4:10
5. Cofee Time (Andre Previn) 2:42
6. A Rose and the End (Andre Previn) 3:24
7. Should I? (Andre Previn) 2:27
8. Look Ma, No Clothes (Andre Previn) 1:33
9. Things Are Looking Down (Andre Previn) 5:36
10. Analyst (Andre Previn) 4:16
11. Like Blue (Andre Previn) 1:57
12. Raising Caen (Andre Previn) 3:04
13. Black Nightgown (Johnny Mandel) 3:32
14. Theme from "I Want to Live!" (Johnny Mandel) 6:52
15. Night Watch (Johnny Mandel) 3:53
16. Frisco Club (Johnny Mandel) 4:41
17. Barbara's Theme (Johnny Mandel) 4:37
18. Life's a Funny Thing (Johnny Mandel) 5:12
Source: Into the Rhythm

The Gerry Mulligan Collection

As a saxophonist, composer, arranger and band leader, Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996) is a jazz legend. The Library of Congress serves as the repository for the Gerry Mulligan Collection, which it obtained in the late 1990s. In this initial Web offering, the Library of Congress is making available excerpts from his autobiography and selected scores and sound recordings.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/mulligan/mulligan-home.html

Gerry and Franca Mulligan at Avery Fisher Hall, 1989

Jorjana Kellaway [photograph]