Gerry Mulligan Gerry Meets Hamp [Jazz Hour]

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); Paul Jeffrey , Rick Ford, Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone); Jack Walrath, Woody Shaw (trumpet); Peter Matt (French horn); Bob Neloms, Hank Jones (piano); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Dannie Richmond, Grady Tate (drums); Candido Camero (congas, percussion).

Liner Note Author: Famke Damst‚.

Recording information: New York, NY (11/06/1977).

Arranger: Paul Jeffrey .

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