The legendary Gerry Mulligan for Downbeat this Sunday – recorded live in Stockholm at Sveriges Radio’s Konserthuset on May 19, 1959.
Joining Gerry Mulligan on this set is Dave Bailey on drums, Bill Crow on bass and Art Farmer on trumpet, part of the Jazz At The Philharmonic series 1959 tour.
One of the most widely respected and admired jazz musicians of our time, Gerry Mulligan occupies a unique place in the American musical scene. As arranger, composer, saxophonist, and conductor, he has played a vital role in the history of modern jazz and contemporary music. Mulligan has performed with such jazz immortals as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Jack Teagarden and Billie Holliday. He was consistently voted number one in jazz polls around the world and has won a record twenty-nine consecutive Down Beat Readers Poll awards.
Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz— Gerry Mulligan was also a significant arranger working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz ensembles. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions, including “Walkin’ Shoes” and “Five Brothers”, have become standards.
If you didn’t know before, now you do – all that’s left for you is to sit back, relax and press Play. The magic hits in about 30 seconds.
Enjoy.
