The bassist and raconteur Bill Crow once remarked that
people don’t talk much about Gerry Mulligan any more. For veteran listeners,
Mulligan was for many years a dominant force in the music: arranger for Claude Thornhill,
the Birth of the Cool sessions, the pianoless quartet with Chet Baker, the
concert big band, and record dates with everyone from Ben Webster to Dave Brubeck
to Thelonious Monk. It’s true, though, maybe because Coltrane and Ornette took
the music in a different direction and younger musicians followed suit. Remember
how “West Coast jazz” was cool and then it wasn’t?
It’s a shame, though. Take Night Lights, for example. In
1963, Mulligan, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, the aforesaid Bill Crow, and Dave Bailey
put together a masterpiece of what could be called “late night jazz”―subdued,
worldly-wise, and subtly emotional. The album is a quest for classic beauty,
which isn’t really much in style these days. I don’t think it’s just nostalgia
on my part; it’s simply beautiful music. The title tune feature Mulligan on piano
rather than baritone, with a bonus track of the same composition with him on
clarinet. Art Farmer, especially on flugelhorn, is one of the most eloquent
players ever. His tone, his choice of notes, and depth of feeling are always remarkable.
Brookmeyer and hall fit the mood as well, with Crow and Bailey’s accompaniment in
support. I’m not in the mood for analysis on this one―just listening.
Here's Festive Minor and Night Lights:
One of the best small-group albums, to be sure.
ReplyDeleteNo question in my mind. I've been a big fan of this recording for many years. I've gotten good feedback on this post, so maybe we're due for a Mulligan renaissance.
DeleteI might like the version of "Festive Minor" on WHAT IS THERE TO SAY? better, but if so, not by much...
ReplyDeleteI knew he had recorded it previously, but this one is the version with which I'm familiar. I'll have to check it out.
DeleteVery nice indeed. I'm most familiar with Mulligan with Baker, but this session is great.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rick! It's funny you should say that, because I was just eying a collection of Mulligan's Pacific Jazz sides because I'm not as familiar as I should be with the pianoless quartet.
ReplyDelete