Mulligan, Gerry & Baker, Chet: Collection 1952-53 - COMPACT DISCS

Title: Collection 1952-53
Artist: Mulligan, Gerry & Baker, Chet
Label: Acrobat
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 824046333928
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: 2020-07-24
Number of Discs: 2

Gerry Mulligan, who was primarily known as a baritone saxophonist, but was an expert exponent of other saxophones, clarinet and piano as well as being a highly-respected arranger, was one of the giants of post-war modern jazz and was one of the leading lights in the "cool jazz" movement focused on the USA's West Coast. In 1952 he began a legendary collaboration with the young lyrical trumpeter Chet Baker, newly-arrived on the jazz scene after an Army career, with the primary era of their professional relationship ending in 1953 when Mulligan was jailed on narcotics charges. This great-value 46-track 2-CD set comprises most of the recordings they made together during this time as part of Gerry Mulligan's quartet (Baker also featured in Mulligan's Tentette line-up and a quintet that included Lee Konitz), initially comprising informal 'live' recordings at The Haig jazz club in Los Angeles and at the house of recording engineer Phil Turetsky, and later at the Black Hawk club in San Francisco as well as more formal studio environments. After the first session, which involved pianist Jimmy Rowles and bassist Joe Mondragon, Mulligan developed an innovative piano-less line-up, using bass and drums to make up the quartets, with the pairings being Bobby Whitlock (bass) and and Chico Hamilton (drums), and Carson Smith (bass) and Larry Bunker (drums). It offers fascinating insights into the the way Mulligan and Baker developed an intuitive rapport, and an absorbing collection of landmark modern jazz performances.

Tracks:
1.1 Disc 1:
1.2 Haig ; Haig (Dinah)
1.3 She Didn't Say Yes, She Didn't Say No
1.4 Bernie's Tune
1.5 Lullaby of the Leaves
1.6 Line for Lyons
1.7 Carioca
1.8 My Funny Valentine
1.9 Bark for Barksdale
1.10 Nights at the Turntable
1.11 Frenesi
1.12 Freeway
1.13 Soft Shoe
1.14 Walkin' Shoes
1.15 Aren't You Glad You're You
1.16 Get Happy
1.17 Poinciana
1.18 Godchild
1.19 Limelight
1.20 The Lady Is a Tramp
1.21 Turnstile
1.22 Moonlight in Vermont
1.23 Carson City Stage
1.24 Cherry
2.1 Motel
2.2 Makin' Whoopee
2.3 My Old Flame
2.4 Love Me or Leave Me
2.5 Swing House
2.6 Jeru
2.7 Utter Chaos
2.8 Darn That Dream
2.9 I May Be Wrong
2.10 I'm Beginning to See the Light
2.11 The Nearness of You
2.12 Tea for Two
2.13 Half Nelson
2.14 Lady Bird
2.15 Speak Low
2.16 Varsity Drag
2.17 Love Me or Leave Me
2.18 Swing House
2.19 Five Brothers
2.20 I Can't Get Started
2.21 Ide's Side
2.22 Fun House
2.23 My Funny Valentine

Audio Sample:
All soundclips are provided by Tidal and are for illustrative purposes only. For some releases, the tracks listed may not accurately represent the tracks on the physical release.