When Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster met up at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles on November 3, 1959, it was to show to be one of many final saxophone summits. The 50-year-old Webster’s tenor sax and 32-year-old Mulligan’s baritone are as polished as polished may very well be. The result’s the album Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster that’s included in NPR’s Fundamental Jazz File Library and has been referred to as a “classic album from two jazz giants.”
Monitor one aspect one is the fabulous Billy Strayhorn composition “Chelsea Bridge.” Webster’s tenor begins the quantity, conjuring up the opening scene from a movie noir basic with a mysterious lady in black, strolling throughout the bridge with headlights reflecting within the puddles. Joined by Mulligan it develops right into a saxophone tour de power.
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Three tracks have been recorded at that first session, the opener, together with “Who’s Got Rhythm” and “Go Home”; the latter two numbers are Mulligan’s compositions and each sound like requirements fairly than new tunes. It’s not simply the sax taking part in that makes these, and all six cuts, so good, but additionally the accompaniment of Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Mel Lewis within the rhythm part, together with the wonderful Jimmy Rowles, whose piano sounds all the time good. As Webster mentioned on the time, “Ben and I were a focused, near-functioning, little band. That’s why it worked and of course, it’s all related to our mutual esteem and musical rapport.”
The opposite three tracks, “The Cat Walk,” “Sunday” and the completely stunning, “Tell Me When” have been recorded a month in a while December 2. It was launched in February 1960 and Billboard mentioned of their Highlight Evaluate, “Both artists blow up a storm and buffs should flock to the set.” And over time they’ve completed simply that.
In 1997 the set was expanded to incorporate extra numbers they lower on the two classes together with some alternate takes; it’s a fascinating document of two wonderful days on the workplace. Earlier, within the 60s it was reissued with the quilt proven above.
That is merely an astonishing document of two giants of jazz on the very high of their sport. Understated, some have mentioned, and sure it’s, however in so being it’s making a far larger assertion. Much less is extra; cool is sizzling – Mulligan’s baritone sax is the right foil for the older Webster’s tenor. It’s additionally been referred to as, “the perfect record for a rainy day,” there’s no arguing the purpose.
Purchase Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster now.
