This CD release contains all known music from the celebrated session reuniting Gerry Mulligan and Thelonious Monk. As a bonus, we have added a long live version of Nows the Time recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955, in which both musicians are also featured.
Tracklisting:
01. 'Round Midnight (Hanighen, Monk, Williams) (8:29)
02. Rhythm-A-Ning (Monk) (5:19)
03. Sweet and Lovely (Arnheim, LeMare, Tobias) (7:17)
04. Decidedly (Mulligan) (5:54)
05. Straight, No Chaser (Monk) (6:58)
06. I Mean You (Hawkins, Monk) (6:52)
07. Decidedly (Mulligan) (6:35) [Alternate Take]
08. Straight, No Chaser (Monk) (5:28) [Alternate Take]
09. I Mean You [Take 1] (Hawkins, Monk) (6:22)
10. I Mean You [Take 2] (Hawkins, Monk) (6:31)
11. Now's The Time (Parker) (8:31) (*) Bonus Track
Total time: 74:19 min.
Tracks #1-6 originally issued in 12" LP (Riverside R 12-247).
Personnel [on #1-10]: Gerry Mulligan (bs), Thelonious Monk (p), Wilbur Ware (b) and Shadow Wilson (d).
Personnel [on #11]: Gerry Mulligan (bs), Thelonious Monk (p), Miles Davis (tp), Zoot Sims (ts), Percy Heath (b) and Connie Kay (d).
Tracks #2, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 10 recorded in New York City, on August 12, 1957.
Tracks #1, 3, 4 & 7 recorded in New York City, on August 13, 1957.
Track #11 recorded live at Newport Jazz Festival, Freebody Park, Newport, on July 17, 1955.
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Review:
"In the late 1950s/early '60s, baritonist Gerry Mulligan participated in several recorded "meetings" with jazz musicians whom he admired. For this set, Mulligan teams up with pianist Thelonious Monk (who shares co-leadership), bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Shadow Wilson on a surprisingly successful date. Monk and Mulligan blend together quite well on what was essentially Thelonious' repertoire of the era including "'Round Midnight," "Rhythm-A-Ning," "Sweet and Lovely," and "I Mean You."
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
"The minutes of this meeting are very interesting indeed. They begin with a lyrical Round Midnight, and continue through Monks brittle I Mean You. In between, there are stretches of good to excellent Mulligan, brilliant Ware, and good to excellent Monk."
Dom Cerulli -Down Beat (1957)
