A set that's noteworthy not just for the presence of alto saxophonist
Lee Konitz, and for the leadership of baritonist Gerry Mulligan – but a record that also features the great
Chet Baker on trumpet, working here as part of a trio of musicians who were really helping transform the sound of jazz in the early 50s! And maybe most noteworthy in the set is the lack of any piano at all – a strategy of Mulligan's at the time, but used in a way that also echoes some of
Lee's sublime quartet sessions of the mid 50s too – and a nice setting for
Chet, as he has plenty of space to open up and craft those magical notes of his youth! The rest of the group features Larry Bunker on drums, and either Carson Smith or Joe Mondragon on bass – and material was recorded partly live, and partly in the studio – with titles that include "Broadway", "Sextet", "Almost Like Being In Love", "Too Marvelous For Words", "Lover Man", "I'll Remember April", and "All The Things You Are".
(Part of the excellent Blue Note Tone Poet series!)