Gerry Mulligan - The Age of Steam

Incredible Jazz Documentary
The Library of Congress and Artists House have produced a genuine masterpiece. The documentary "Listen" alone is so well put together I've watched it 5 times all the way through and still am not tired of seeing it. Just watching Gerry learn One Note Samba direct from it's composer Antonio Carlos Jobim years before it was a hit song in his NY apartment is worth the price alone. Historic TV footage of Gerry soloing with Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins and Billie Holiday grinning and digging what he's playing is fantastic as well. This is a wonderful momento to Gerry and his significant impact on American Music in the 20th century. A Giant for all time indeed.

Great DVD
The audio CD that comes with this is terrific, a unique set of arrangements and a unique group in Mulligan's output -- excellent writing with edgy voicings, excellent soloing, tight ensemble work. What's not to like? (Mulligan's deep musicality (as writer as well as soloist) is too often overlooked.) Here, you get the history of jazz up to 1971 without the lecture. Brookmeyer is as intelligent here as ever, Jimmy Cleveland, and Kenny Shroyer (nice bass bone), Bud Shank, Tom Scott, Ernie Watts Roger Kellaway, Howard Roberts, Emil Richards, John Guerin, all tip-top; also Roger Bobo and Joe Porcaro. And Sweets gets a nice moment, too!

The accompanying DVD is unique -- it includes typical interviews with musicians on the CD, and an interesting master class given by Mulligan, but it also has a terrific resource for jazz aficionados and students: the DVD includes Mulligan's scores and parts, plus Mulligan's later Concert Jazz Band arrangements for some of the works on the CD,...

A Treasure to Keep
I have many Gerry Mulligan CDs but never miss an oppurtunity to add to the collection.
There are some unusual instrument line ups but the whole thing hangs together really well.
Such a mixture of styles, funk to a softer style of jazz.
The DVD is basically everything you wanted to know about Gerry his career and his insight into the music.
A collectors item.
Steve J

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