Reissue of Classic Konitz Meets Mulligan Album
Roger Berlind | NY, USA | 07/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is a reissue of the classic "Konitz Meets Mulligan" album from 1953 which featured the Mulligan/Baker quartet joined by Konitz. Since that album is currently unavailable and since this album includes all the tunes from it along with additional tracks, it should be worth buying if you don't already own the other one. Gerry Mulligan plays baritone sax, Chet Baker plays trumpet, and Lee Konitz plays alto sax.
As I previously wrote in my review of "Konitz Meets Mulligan", I own several CDs from Gerry Mulligan including another recording from the Mulligan/Baker quartet, two from the Mulligan/Desmond quartet, and one from a big band Mulligan lead in 1960. I find all of these albums by Mulligan very relaxing. Mulligan is one of the best baritone players of all time and is also a talented composer and arranger.
On this album, the Mulligan/Baker quartet of 1952-3 is joined by alto saxophonist, Lee Konitz, who had played with Mulligan on the famous Miles Davis "Birth of the Cool" album from 1950. I enjoy his playing with Mulligan and Baker very much. They both play with the same charm they demonstrated in their other recordings without Konitz. The tunes are mostly standards with just one composition, "Sextet", by Mulligan.
All the tracks on the original "Konitz Meets Mulligan" release are outstanding. Given the low price of the new issue, you'll get good value even if the bonus tracks (which I have not yet heard) are not as good."