Search - Gerry Mulligan :: Storyville

Original fine program plus out-takes

Robert English | Independence, OR USA | 04/05/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gerry Mulligan's recorded output during this period (mid-50's) was uniformally excellent. Buying just about any of his records from this timeframe is a good purchase, and the added bonus of out-takes makes this CD especially worthy.Of special interest are tracks where Gerry plays some exceptional piano (numbers 6, 9, 11, and 13). These tracks are in true stereo. The other tracks in the collection are also stereo, but the balance of instruments makes it sound like an early 60's "false stereo" package. There's been no sonic restoration done on these tracks, so there's a fair amount of hiss here.In the final track, "Limelight", Gerry stops playing in the middle of his solo to chew out a member of the audience (off-mic). The band keeps playing, and Gerry starts his solo again after saying what he needs to say. This seemed to address the matter and there is no reference to it after that.Whether you have the original LP or not, this one makes a nice addition to any collection. It's a fine example of the intricate contrapuntal harmonies that made this quartet legendary, though some sonic restoration during remastering would have been welcome."