Gerry Mulligan

Not long after the fuzzy European label Rare Live Recordings started, the imprint quickly developed a reputation for issuing jazz CDs uncovering previously unknown but often awful-sounding live performances. Fortunately, this compilation, which features four different sets performed over at least two nights at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, proves to be an exception. The performances are of excellent quality, though the music is promoted as being previously unreleased concerts and that is not completely the case, with 11 of the songs previously appearing on the Phontastic Newport compilation Newport Jazz Festival: Mulligan in the Main, Vol. 2. The Gerry Mulligan Quartet -- with trumpeter Art Farmer, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Dave Bailey -- was still a relatively new ensemble at the time of these performances. Their first seven selections seem to come from an excellent soundboard or perhaps Voice of America radio broadcast, while the other three songs are evidently from a different set at the same festival, though the source is not as high-fidelity. The baritonist and trumpeter mesh extremely well, highlighted by Mulligan's intricate "Festive Minor" and revivals of earlier hits like "Bernie's Tune" and "Moonlight in Vermont." Mulligan also sits in with pianist Marian McPartland (with bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Ed Shaugnessy) during an evening that was a salute to Duke Ellington, playing a pair of Ellington tunes, highlighted by an invigorating extended workout of "C Jam Blues." Five tracks (some of which were excerpted in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day) feature the Chico Hamilton Quintet, with multi-reed player Eric Dolphy in their first recorded collaboration, guitarist John Pisano, and cellist Nathan Gershman. Jim Hall's obscure birdlike "Chrissie" focuses on Dolphy's flute and Pisano. The audio quality again drops somewhat following the two previous issued tracks from the Phontastic CD. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide