Search - Gerry Mulligan :: Age of Steam

Best Recording Ever

James Matheson, Jr | Rockton, IL | 01/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Mulligan's personal favorite. It is by far his best. This CD should be rereleased immediately. This is a must have for any Gerry Mulligan devotee or any one interested in Mulligan's work. His playing is at the top of the game here and the sidemen join him. Get this recording!"

Release the CD

Alan Mills | Chicago, Illinois USA | 03/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I listened to this albumn during my first weeks in College--I was hooked then; I'm hooked now.



Right on the cusp between traditional big band jazz and cutting edge jazz-rock fusion, Mulligan's Age of Steam comes down firmly on the side of traditional jazz, BUT, Age of Steam not only swings, it rocks.



In contrast to Miles' improvisations (Live-Evil; Bitches Brew), or Chick Corea's Return to Forever, Mulligan places electric guitars and bass firmly in the big band tradition. But if you are expecting Fletcher Henderson (or Count Basie, for that matter), prepare to be surprised. This albumn should rank right up there with Birth of theCool (for which Mulligan was also the arranger) as cutting edge jazz. Instead, Age of Steam has been relegated to obscurity.



I have no idea why this ahsn't been released on CD (along with Roger Kelleway's Comme to the Meadow)--related, as Kellaway adds his talents on piano to Age of Steam. If you run accross a copy, buy it. If you work for whoever has the rightst to the tapes of these 1971 sessions--PUT IT OUT!"