Blues For Gerry: The Lionel Hampton Sessions

Performer: Gerry Mulligan
Artist: Lionel Hampton; Grady Tate; Hank Jones; Bucky Pizzarelli; Candido; George Duvivier
Producer: John Cevetello; Lionel Hampton; Bill Titone
Distributor: City Hall

Notes: Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Hank Jones (piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); George Duvivier (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Candido (congas). Personnel includes: Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Hank Jones (piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); George Duvivier (bass); Candido Camero (percussion). Recorded in 1977. Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Hank Jones (piano); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Grady Tate (drums); Candido Camero (congas). Liner Note Author: Matteo Piazza. Recording information: New York, NY (10/29/1977). This session led by Gerry Mulligan was initially released by Who's Who in Jazz and has been released under different names by many labels. It is one of a series of recordings for the label in which vibraphonist Lionel Hampton plays with another giant of jazz, usually with a rhythm section specifically assembled for the date. Joining them are pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, drummer Grady Tate and on selected tracks, conga player Candido Camero. The baritone saxophonist and the vibraphonist complement one another very well. Mulligan brought both new and old charts to the session. He revisits one of his older works "Apple Core," along with a somewhat rock-ish (due to Pizzarelli's odd playing on this track) "Walking Shoes" and "Line for Lyons;" this session marks his sole recording of "Song for Johnny Hodges," a melodic tribute to Duke Ellington's great alto saxophonist. Hampton's contributions include the brisk blues romp "Gerry Meets Hamp" and the loping "Blues for Gerry." This CD unfortunately omits "Ain't Misbehavin'," which has only appeared on the Kingdom Gate edition of this session. This a worthwhile meeting of the two, who combined forces once again to join Charles Mingus for the bassist's final session as a leader and performer just a few days after this album was completed. ~ Ken Dryden This 1977 session, which combines Lionel Hampton and Gerry Mulligan with a strong rhythm section (Hank Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Duvivier, Grady Tate and Candido Camero) seems to be Mulligan's date. But Hampton ends up the de facto leader, due to the heavy rhythmic (as opposed to melodic) emphasis of the arrangements, even though six of the nine songs recorded at the session were composed by the baritone saxophonist. Mulligan's solos are still the centerpiece of each track, even with the formidable presence of Hampton's swinging vibes. It is also a valuable recording since it is an opportunity to hear older Mulligan compositions, such as "Blight of the Fumble Bee,"" "Line for Lyons" and "Walking Shoes" in different settings. Also notable is the debut of a new piece by Mulligan, "Song for Johnny Hodges." Initially released by Who's Who in Jazz, it has reappeared under a number of different titles on labels such as Cleo, Kingdom Gate, Toledo, Baystate, and Jazz Hour, to name just a few. ~ Ken Dryden This session led by Gerry Mulligan was initially released by Who's Who in Jazz and has been released under different names by many labels. It is one of a series of recordings for the label in which vibraphonist Lionel Hampton plays with another giant of jazz, usually with a rhythm section specifically assembled for the date. Joining them are pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, drummer Grady Tate and on selected tracks, conga player Candido Camero. The baritone saxophonist and the vibraphonist complement one another very well. Mulligan brought both new and old charts to the session. He revisits one of his older works "Apple Core," along with a somewhat rock-ish (due to Pizzarelli's odd playing on this track) "Walking Shoes" and "Line for Lyons;" this session marks his sole recording of "Song for Johnny Hodges," a melodic tribute to Duke Ellington's great alto saxophonist. Hampton's contributions include the brisk blues romp "Gerry Meets Hamp" and the loping "Blues for Gerry." This CD unfortunately omits "Ain't Misbehavin'," which has only appeared on the Kingdom Gate edition of this session. This a worthwhile meeting of the two, who combined forces once again to join Charles Mingus for the bassist's final session as a leader and performer just a few days after this album was completed. ~ Ken Dryden

The sensuous blending of textures is as much the hallmark of Gerry Mulligan's compositional style as an understated lyricism is the signature of his work on baritone sax. Both talents were fully displayed in his breakthrough appearance on the celebrated BIRTH OF THE COOL of 1949, an album for which the 21-year-old provided more than half of its innovative compositions. After the 1950s, Mulligan's laid-back style was overshadowed by new developments in jazz and the burgeoning of rock in the '60s and '70s. But his touring and recording schedule continued apace, and he enjoyed fruitful collaborations with an older generation of musicians who had an instinctive affinity for his style.

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