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Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Big Band was in the early stages of development when this performance was taped, but Swiss Radio Days nevertheless captures a budding orchestra that is far from ungainly. The baritone-sax great put together the 13-man ensemble earlier in 1960, having set aside the quartet and sextet formats he'd explored with great success in the 1950s. Constructing the group around longtime foil Bob Brookmeyer's trombone, Zoot Sims's fervent tenor, and Mel Lewis's driving drums, the 33-year-old Mulligan came up with an ambitious, agile, and adept outfit that was forceful yet dexterous. Mixing originals with selections culled from Johnny Mandel, Johnny Green, Ben Webster, and Duke Ellington, the bandleader's program showcases his cast more as a cohesive unit than as a forum for showy solos. --Steven Stolder
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By Donnie The B (USA)
The Swiss label TCB has made available much of the live concert jazz recorded for local radio broadcast in the 1950's and 1960's. This performance found the band in fine form. Dig the frenetic, yet swinging, solo on Mulligan's "The Apple Core" by Zoot Sims. Ben Webster's "Go Home" is particularly pleasing with fine solos by Gerry, Zoot, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim Reider and Mulligan again. Duke's "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" became a head piece for the band. Don Ferrara, Reider, Brookmeyer, and Mulligan highlight this swinging performance from Montreaux.
If you're a big band jazz fan, you should have at least something from this somewhat unusual 13 piece pianoless group. This would not be a bad place to start - although several other titles are currently available. Incidently, this performance is more inspired than the Paris-Olympia concert.
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