Gerry Mulligan

[Bobby G]

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. Baritone sax, the inimitable Gerry Mulligan. I love that ebullient 'rusty' or rattly sound of his, I love the sound of a bari in general. He seems comfortable in a variety of styles in 'mainstream/modern' jazz, having played with Monk, Ben Webster and many others (if memory serves he is on Miles' 'Birth of the Cool', too), including the short-lived but marvellous piano-less quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker. Gerry's playing always sounds good-humoured to me, lyrical logical light loose and springy. Another very accessible, yet inventive player.

 

[griff136]

I'd agree with that

 

[lee_]

Here's Mulligan in his youth, backing Billie Holiday (just a couple years before she died) with an all-star band.

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks for that, Lee. I've just watched it and had a life-enhancing experience to say the least.

I know quite a few of the players on the clip, to listen to, especially Ben Webster and Roy Eldridge, but actually seeing them individually and collectively is something else isn't it?

To cross-reference to another topic, THAT is what I meant by 'the place of the saxophone in blues music'!'

I'm just real gone, man...

 

[mfox]

I love this guy..for years i've collected anything by him. im glad he recorded so much..i have a baritone and i would love to be able to do a smidging of what he can do..