Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster – Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster | 45rpm 2LP

A TAV Curator’s Pick.

“Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster, also simply called Meets Ben Webster, is a 1959 album featuring the November 3 - December 2 studio sessions of American jazz musicians Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster.

In a 2003 review, All That Jazz described this album as the most notable example of Gerry Mulligan's work partnering other legendary figures of jazz. The album, as a "classic album from two giants", is featured in NPR's "Basic Jazz Record Library"”. - Wiki

“The opening track, Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" is lush and emotional and truly sets the tone for this album. With Jimmy Rowles on piano (his intro on "Sunday" sounds like a ragtimer like Willie "The Lion" Smith just pushed him off the stool before the band came in), Mel Lewis on drums, and the always superb Leroy Vinnegar on bass present and accounted for, the rhythm section is superbly swinging with just the right amount of bop lines and chords in the mix to spice things up. The ghost of Duke Ellington hovers over every note on this record (Billy Strayhorn was one of his main arrangers) and that is a very good thing, indeed. There's a beautiful, understated quality to the music on this session that makes it the perfect relaxing around the house on a rainy day disc to pop in the player. File this one under cool, very smooth, and supple.” - AllMusic

Musicians:

• Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax
• Ben Webster, tenor sax
• Jimmy Rowles, piano
• Leroy Vinnegar, bass
• Mel Lewis, drums

Tracklist:

1. Chelsea Bridge
2. The Cat Walk
3. Sunday
4. Who's Got Rhythm
5. Tell Me When
6. Go Home

Item description: