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Two of a Mind
Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan
Two of a Mind
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (6) - Disc #1

Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan helped to define the cool school with their light, almost vibratoless tones--Desmond's alto luminous and airy, Mulligan's baritone woolly and quietly gruff. They also shared a fondness for i...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan
Title: Two of a Mind
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: RCA
Original Release Date: 1/1/1962
Re-Release Date: 5/21/1996
Album Type: Original recording reissued
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style: Cool Jazz
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266851324

Synopsis

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Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan helped to define the cool school with their light, almost vibratoless tones--Desmond's alto luminous and airy, Mulligan's baritone woolly and quietly gruff. They also shared a fondness for improvised counterpoint, and that's the defining characteristic of these 1962 sessions, from the theme statement of "All the Things You Are" with Mulligan echoing Desmond's lead. Like Mulligan's famous group with trumpeter Chet Baker, this is a pianoless quartet, and the open harmonic atmosphere casts the saxophonists' interplay in high relief. Desmond's title tune and Mulligan's "Blight of the Fumble Bee" lead to extended passages of collective improvisation, while Mulligan often supplies Desmond with restrained counterlines. On "The Way You Look Tonight," the theme gradually emerges out of Desmond's part in an almost fuguelike improvisation. The LP-length recording took a surprising three sessions to produce, and there's a revolving door for rhythm sections. Drummer Connie Kay from the Modern Jazz Quartet appears on two tracks with bassist Wendell Marshall and one with John Beal. Drummer Mel Lewis teams with bassist Joe Benjamin on the other three. Despite that, there's nothing lacking in the quality of the support: the two saxophonists sound consistently--if quietly--inspired. --Stuart Broomer

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CD Reviews

Musical telepathy-vol.2
William Gowers | Louisville, KY United States | 02/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"See my previous review of regarding the first Desmond/Mulligan collaboration..."Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Quartet". "Two of a Mind" and "Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Quartet" should be sold as a set. It would be musical heresy to buy one and not the other. These two CDs represent an uncanny level of telepathy in jazz improvisation that has never since been acheived between two musicians. If there is music in heaven it's being played by Desmond and Mulligan. Enjoy!"
Accomplished rather than exciting
Joost Daalder | South Australia | 09/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I did not hear this recording in 1962 when it came out. The booklet accompanying this CD suggests that, comparatively speaking, "Two of a Mind" fell flat among its potential audience because of the Bossa Nova craze, which did, indeed, attract a lot of attention. But many of us were listening intently to jazz at the same time, and I think it is not impossible that this recording just did not fire many people in 1962, and hence never became popular, because it was not judged exciting enough. Hearing it now, that is certainly what I feel myself. Normally, I am a great fan of both Desmond and Mulligan, and the prospect of hearing the two together greatly appealed to me when I bought the CD. The music is affable, pleasant, and competent, but, though the performances are impeccable enough (after all, both saxopohonists were among the really great ones of their period), there is a degree of lifelessness here - a lack of the necessary spark. I tend to listen to the CD as pleasant background music rather than as a strong musical experience, and doubt whether I would buy it again. Ironically, both Desmond and Mulligan played music far more exciting - separately as well as together - when playing with Dave Brubeck. I feel that on this occasion they did not truly inspire each other, even though working harmoniously enough..."
Two at their best
Joost Daalder | 08/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Desmond and Mulligan recorded two albums together in a quartet form; Blues in Time and Two of a Mind. Both are classics; the sessions sound loose and free, and they really swing. In fact, rarely outside of the Dave Brubeck quartet did Paul Desmond find the ability to swing like this, as his solo outtings often tended to be more somber. The Baritone of Mulligan really compliments Desmond's alto very well. If you have to choose between Blues in Time and this album, your better bet is to go with this album. They both sound like they could have come from the same sessions, but the songs just tend to hold together a bit better on Two of a Mind. Be sure to check out Desmond literally breath new life into "Stardust.""