Search - Gerry Mulligan, Concert Jazz Band :: At the Village Vanguard (Spec Packaging)

Absolutely Terrific Big Band Jazz

Frank Levy | Newton, Massachusetts United States | 10/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a terrific record when it was issued and it is just as good today. The up-tempo pieces feature tight arrangements and great solos and the band's enthusiasm is infectious. The balads are lovely as well. The sound on the CD is excellent. I would recommend the CD to any jazz lover."

This is incredible

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 01/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this sometime in 2005, loved it, but decided not to review it because right on the sleeve (it's a cardboard package with the cd slipped inside a fuzzy little envelope like the Sam Rivers - Crystals package, not a jewel case) it says it's a limited release that goes out-of-print in september of 2005. I just figured there's no point in reviewing it since the review would effectively die in several months. Now here we are in 2006 and it's still available.



The band is Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax and piano. Mel Lewis drums. Bill Crow bass. Nick Travis, Clark Terry, Don Ferrara trumpets. Bob Brookmeyer, Willie Dennis, Alan Ralph trombones. Gene Quill clarinet and alto saxophone. Bob Donovan alto. Jim Reider tenor saxophone. Gene Allen baritone saxophone and bass clarinet.



Who knows how much longer this will be around. If you think you might want it, GET IT. This band is amazing and the sound of the recording is fantastic! I like the couple slower tunes too, quite lovely interpretations of these tunes, but the uptempo stuff is the heart and soul of this album. There's not a single note I'd want to change here and the intensity is really something to behold. This band swings ruthlessly and the soloing is impeccable.



Even if you're not what you'd call a "big-band person", don't let that stop you. Glenn Miller this is not! Then again if you have high blood-pressure or arthritis you may want to take your medicine before popping this into the player because your heart-rate will rise and you're going to be moving. This is one of my favorite cds I bought in all of 2005 and from my first listen last year to my most recent listen yesterday, I've been in envy of everyone who ever attended a concert by this band on one of their good nights. I assume this was a phenomenal night because this thing knocks me out from the first track to the last, but if they were even better than this, and if that stuff was recorded, then please some label, any label, release or re-release all those albums because my soul and wallet are waiting.



"

Great Early 1960's "Big Band" Jazz

Donnie The B | USA | 05/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Concert Jazz Band was not your usual big band. At one point Gerry worked with what he called a "tentet" - this is kind of an outgrowth of that instrumentation. Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Mel Lewis and of course Gerry Mulligan are at the top of their form here.

Also try to find "Concert Jazz Band On Tour" (with Zoot Sims) which is listed on Amazon as available new. There's also a live Paris recording of this group now available, which features Zoot as a guest soloist. I bought all the original Verve CJB albums on vinyl when I was learning to play tenor sax. Used to love to try to swing along with Zoot Sims and Gerry Mulligan.

Gerry put together a ten member group in 1992 to re-record the "Birth of the Cool" music. Called "Re-Birth Of The Cool" it was recently available on the GRP label as a CD. This is very worthwhile as well - as are the original sessions (with Miles Davis) from 1949. Phil Woods plays superbly on alto in place of Lee Konitz on the newer "Birth". Wallace Roney plays a commendable trumpet, and I think I like Mulligan's work as much or more in his old age as in his 20's."