Search - Gerry Mulligan :: The Complete Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster

Gerry Mulligan
The Complete Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
1. In A Mellow Tone (CD Master Take)
2. In A Mellow Tone (Alternative Take)
3. What Is This Thing Called Love? (CD Master Take)
4. Chelsea Bridge (LP Master Take)
5. Chelsea Bridge (Alternative Take)
6. Go Home
7. Go Home (LP Master Take)
8. Who Got Rhythm? (LP Master Take)
9. For Bessie (CD Master Take)
10. Go Home
11. Go Home
Track Listings (15) - Disc #2
1. Fajista (False Start)
2. Fajista (Alternative Take)
3. Fajista (Discussion And Rehearsal)
4. Fajista (CD Master Take)
5. Tell Me When (Alternative Take)
6. Tell Me When (LP Master Take)
7. Blues In B-Flat
8. Blues In B-Flat (Alternative Take)
9. Blues In B-Flat (CD Master Take)
10. The Cat Walk
11. The Cat Walk (Alternative Take)
12. The Cat Walk
13. The Cat Walk (LP Master Take)
14. Sunday (Alternative Take)
15. Sunday (LP Master Take)

CD Details

All Artists: Gerry Mulligan
Title: The Complete Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Polygram Records
Release Date: 10/28/1997
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Cool Jazz, Swing Jazz, Vocal Pop, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 731453905528, 0731453905528

Synopsis

Amazon.com

This 1959 recording brings together two fine musicians from worlds that one might not usually connect, with Gerry Mulligan's light and airy baritone representing the "cool" and Ben Webster's richly burred tenor possibly standing for the epitome of a very "warm" swing. When this was recorded, however, the quintet was actually a working band. Mulligan had a profound appreciation of Webster's talent, and the two shared an affection for the music of Duke Ellington and his composing partner Billy Strayhorn, both of whom are represented here. With the accomodating Jimmy Rowles on piano and the fine rhythm team of bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis, this is consummate small-group jazz that's beyond classification. There's something unique in the ensemble sound of the two horns, with all the gravity concentrated in the higher tenor, but this is very much a blowing session, with Webster at his lyric and passionate best. The two-CD set offers a host of alternate takes that are a fine display of the improvisers' art. --Stuart Broomer

CD Reviews

Alternate Take Overkill

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Complete Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster Sessions" is the perfect example of why some classic jazz albums should be left alone, and why some bonus material should just stay in the vaults. There is no disputing that "GM Meets BW" is an all-time great session, and kudos to Verve for still making it available as a single CD. That disc combined the original six LP masters with five songs from the session that were previously unreleased. This "Complete" two-disc set basically adds another entire disc's worth of alternate takes for eight of those eleven tunes, including three (!) each of "Fajista," "Go Home," and "The Cat Walk." We are not talking about the "Legendary Charlie Parker Dial Sessions" here, where every alternate version produced a different Parker solo and allowed you to see a great improviser at work. The Ben and Jeru alternates are valuable, but most people will skip around them (as I often do). Don't get me wrong, I think that it is great that Verve is taking the time to assemble quality releases of historical significance. (This same initiative led to the release of the amazing three-CD "Complete Lee Konitz Motion Sessions" which did have a plethora of unreleased gems.) I just don't think "The Complete Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster Sessions" is for everyone."