GERRY MULLIGAN meets BEN WEBSTER LP NM/NM JAPAN Stereo 1961

$

26

AllMusic Review by Cub Koda  [-]

Make no mistake about it, the swing and bop start right here on this legendary 1959 session between baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and tenor man Ben Webster. Produced by Norman Granz as an early Verve album, this Mobile Fidelity 24-karat gold-disc reissue is sonically worth the extra bread as it feels like you're right in the control room every note of the way. The opening track, Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" is lush and emotional and truly sets the tone for this album. With Jimmy Rowles on piano (his intro on "Sunday" sounds like a ragtimer like Willie "The Lion" Smith just pushed him off the stool before the band came in), Mel Lewis on drums, and the always superb Leroy Vinnegar on bass present and accounted for, the rhythm section is superbly swinging with just the right amount of bop lines and chords in the mix to spice things up. The ghost of Duke Ellington hovers over every note on this record (Billy Strayhorn was one of his main arrangers) and that is a very good thing, indeed. There's a beautiful, understated quality to the music on this session that makes it the perfect relaxing around the house on a rainy day disc to pop in the player. File this one under cool, very smooth, and supple.

Gerry Mulligan, Ben Webster ‎– Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster

Label:

Verve Records ‎– MJS 3093

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo

Country:

Japan

Released:

1961

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Bop, Swing

TracklistHide Credits

A1 Chelsea Bridge

Composed By – Billy Strayhorn

A2 The Cat Walk

Composed By – Gerry Mulligan

A3 Sunday

Composed By – Bennie Krueger, Chester Conn, Jule Styne, Ned Miller (2)

B1 Who's Got Rhythm

Composed By – Gerry Mulligan

B2 Tell Me When

Composed By – Gerry Mulligan

B3 Go Home

Composed By – Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan

Credits

Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan

Bass – Leroy Vinnegar

Drums – Mel Lewis

Liner Notes – Nat Hentoff

Photography By – Bill Claxton*

Piano – Jimmy Rowles

Producer – Norman Granz

Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

Notes

Manufactured by Polydor K.K., Japan

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.