View Your Cart 0 Log in to The Jazz Store
Buy Online or Call 1-800-558-9513 To Order
Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard [Verve]

Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard [Verve]

  • Your Price: $17.98

Review

It is puzzling to understand why so many of the Verve recordings by Gerry Mulligan & the Concert Jazz Band languish out of print, but this historic 1960 engagement at the Village Vanguard was finally reissued (though on a limited basis for only three years) in the spring of 2002. With a powerful band full of strong soloists (Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Clark Terry, and Willie Dennis, to name just a few), a solid rhythm section, and imaginative arrangements by either Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Al Cohn, or Johnny Mandel, this release has stood the test of time very well. Cohn's treatment of Art Farmer's "Blueport" kicks the band into high gear, with potent solos by Mulligan and the now overlooked tenor saxophonist Jim Reider. Brookmeyer's richly textured scoring of "Body and Soul" is very refreshing, while the lush ballad "Come Rain or Come Shine" is a Mulligan chart featuring the leader's mellow baritone sax. Terry's almost vocal muted trumpet solo steals the show in Mulligan's closing blues, "Let My People Be," which features the leader on piano. Don't put off buying this limited-edition reissue or you'll find yourself scouring auction lists to pay a hefty price for this highly recommended CD. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Track Listing

1. Blueport 11:06
2. Body and Soul 5:44
3. Black Nightgown 4:10
4. Come Rain or Come Shine 5:35
5. Lady Chatterley's Mother 6:14
6. Let My People Be 7:59

Details of This Recording

  • Label: Verve
  • Credits:
  • Additional Info:
  • Styles:
    • Cool
    • West Coast Jazz

Contents

Blueport; Body and Soul; Black Nightgown; Come Rain or Come Shine; Lady Chatterley's Mother; Let My People Be.

Gerry Mulligan, Baritone Sax, Piano, Arranger; Gene Allen, Baritone Sax; Don Ferrara, Clark Terry, Nick Travis, Trumpets; Bob Brookmeyer, Valve Trombone, Arranger; Willie Dennis, Alan Ralph, Trombones; Gene Quill, Alto Sax, Clarinet; Bob Donovan, Alto Sax; Jim Reider, Tenor Sax; Bill Crow, Bass; Mel Lewis, Drums; Al Cohn, Johnny Mandel, Arrangers.

Read About This Recording

Gerry Mulligan became famous in the 1950s for leading a pianoless quartet (that originally featured trumpeter Chet Baker), for always winning polls as jazz's top baritone-saxophonist and for his highly respected composing and arranging. He led one of the most swinging of all big bands, the Concert Jazz Band, during 1960-63.

Of the group's recordings, their Live At The Village Vanguard set was their most exciting. The highpoint is Blueport, a lengthy uptempo blues that climaxes with a very witty tradeoff between Mulligan and flugelhornist Clark Terry that is full of song quotes that answer each other. The gospellish Let My People Be, which has Mulligan switching to piano, is also quite memorable and the other tunes include Body And Soul, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Black Nightgown and Lady Chatterley's Mother. In addition to Mulligan and Terry, the key soloists include valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and Jimmy Reider on tenor, with bassist Bill Crow and drummer Mel Lewis keeping the music swinging.

Live At The Village Vanguard is one of the best big band albums of the 1960s and highly recommended.

-Scott Yanow

Spotlight

Of the group's recordings, this set was their most exciting. The highpoint is Blueport, a lengthy uptempo blues that climaxes with a very witty tradeoff between Mulligan and flugelhornist Clark Terry. Other tunes include Body And Soul, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Black Nightgown. Valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and Jimmy Reider on tenor, bassist Bill Crow and drummer Mel Lewis keeping the music swinging.

This is one of the best big band albums of the 1960s and highly recommended.