Gerry Mulligan: A Ballad
Track
A Ballad
Artist
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax)
CD
The Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet & Quartet (GNP Crescendo 56)
Musicians:
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax), Chet Baker (trumpet), Pete Candoli (trumpet), Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), John Graas (French horn), Bud Shank (alto sax), Joe Mondragon (bass), Chico Hamilton (drums),
Ray Siegel (tuba), Don Davidson (baritone sax)
.Composed and arranged by Gerry Mulligan
.Recorded: Los Angeles, January 29, 1953
Rating: 97/100 (learn more)
As chief arranger and co-principal soloist, Gerry Mulligan helped deliver Miles Davis's obstetric triumph Birth of the Cool (1949-50). Three years later and on the opposite coast, Mulligan added a second trumpet and baritone sax to the 1950 BOTC octet lineup for an ad hoc "Tentette" that proved nearly as influential as the earlier band. Gerry contributes a lovely solo to this track, but its appeal is his gorgeous arrangement, answering Gil Evans's miraculous "Moon Dreams" chart for BOTC. "A Ballad" is deficient only in its title—rather like naming your newborn "A Baby." Otherwise it's three minutes of perfection.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
Tags: ballad · baritone sax · west coast jazz
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