I heard this record for the first time last night and it’s a killer. I’m partial to Gerry Mulligan anyway, and I’ve always enjoyed his Concert Jazz Band recordings. This album was recorded in New York City in 1961. The 13-piece band is outstanding. It includes Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone; bassist and jazz humor anthologist Bill Crow; Mel Lewis on drums; Gene Quill on clarinet and alto saxophone; and Doc Severinsen on trumpet. The arrangers are equally impressive: Mulligan, Brookmeyer, George Russell, Johnny Carisi and Gary McFarland. (This is McFarland’s first recording. I was interested to learn that he’d studied at the Lenox School Of Jazz in my hometown of Lenox, Mass.) The band cooks at times, and at other moments lopes along with that easy swing associated with the best Basie material. Recommended.
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