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Music > Albums > Gerry Mulligan - The Best of Gerry Mulligan With Chet Baker (1991) Custom CD
added on July 15, 2007, at 06:46 by armik

The impact of Gerry Mulligan's piano-less quartet on the jazz world in 1953 was instant and far-reaching. No-one had ever heard anything like it before. Baritone saxophone, trumpet, bass and drums seemed such an unlikely combination, yet the effect was enchanting--light, supple, tuneful, witty. Chet Baker, hitherto unrecorded and totally unknown, became a star overnight, hailed as the new Bix Beiderbecke on account of his clear tone and lyrical turn of phrase. The quartet's music was that rare kind of jazz which appeals to everyone, all kinds of jazz fans and a broad section of the general public as well. It makes pleasant background music, but at the same time rewards close listening. It is full of catchy tunes, both originals ("Walkin' Shoes", "Nights At The Turntable") and standards ("Makin' Whoopee", "My Funny Valentine") and the clever interplay among the four instruments provides a source of endless fascination. It has lost none of its appeal over the years and now comes with the added attraction of period charm, a sort of time capsule from Los Angeles in the early 1950s. --Dave Gelly

front 1942 x 1897 px

back 1755 x 1407 px