GERRY MULLIGAN: RE-BIRTH OF THE COOL (1992)

GERRY MULLIGAN: RE-BIRTH OF THE COOL
A idéia de Gerry não poderia ter sido melhor: regravar, com a merecida qualidade digital, esta obra prima. Pena que Miles Davis faleceu antes e não participou da re-gravação, sendo substituído por Wallace Rooney. Mel Tormé cantou "Darn that Dream". Dos músicos que participaram da gravação original, restaram Mulligan, Bill Barber e John Lewis. Os arranjos foram mantidos intactos mas os improvisos em alguns temas são mais curtos.

(*)Para os frequentadores interessados em preservar a qualidade do som, estou sugerindo links alternativos, no formato FLAC.
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RE-BIRTH OF THE COOL
"In 1991, Mulligan contacted Miles Davis about revisiting the music from the seminal 1949 Birth of the Cool album. Davis had recently performed some of his Gil Evans collaborations with Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival and was enthusiastic. However, Davis died from a stroke in September and Mulligan continued the recording project and tour with Wallace Roney and Art Farmer subbing for Davis. Re-Birth of the Cool (released in 1992) featured the charts from Birth of the Cool, and a new nonet which included Lewis and Barber from the original Davis band."
(Source: Wikepedia)
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ALBUM REVIEW
Over all this is a very good date. The musicians on this recording sound as enthusiastic as on the original recordings. Gerry Mulligan and Wallace Roney are fantastic and John Lewis, as usual, is tastefully sparse and elegant. The only thing in my opinion that takes a star or two away from this date is Lee Konitz not being present. Aside from Miles Davis, Gerry, and John, Lee was the the other major voice on the original recordings. Phil Woods is great, but not for this date. On "Moon Dreams", in particular, Lee's plaintive, vibrato-less tone is so missed. It's like having a four legged table with the fourth leg missing.
(By L. Barnes - "Trumpeter Too")
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MY OPINION
With a lineup consisting of three musicians of the original 1948 Birth of the Cool recordings and some new players,this album is a welcome addition to the Miles Davis Nonet recording. The tunes sound as great as ever, and, as a matter of fact, the ensemble playing is much more tight, the soloists sounding mature and in good shape. The arrangements are at front, and with a great new production like this, you can hear the material far better than on the original recording from 1948. It does not only replaces Birth of the Cool, but Re-birth...
(CB)
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MINHA OPINIÃO - esta obra prima, "landmark" na história dos arranjos e da evolução dos estilos de jazz merecia mesmo ser regravada, uma vez que a qualidade das gravações originais é bastante precária. Pena que Miles Davis tenha falecido antes e (não entendo por que razão), Lee Konitz não tenha participado desta notável re-edição. Mas a presença de Mel Tormé, é um "plus" e compensa, em parte, a falta de Miles e Konitz. Ademais, todos os músicos que formam o grupo são extraordinários e nada ficam a dever àqueles "pioneiros". BARRA DE OURO, devidamente polida...
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GERRY MULLIGAN: RE-BIRTH OF THE COOL (1992)

PERSONNEL:
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax)
Phil Woods (alto sax)
Wallace Roney (trumpet)
Dave Bargeron (trombone)
John Clark (french horn)
Bill Barber (tuba)
John Lewis (piano)
Dean Johnson (bass)
Ron Vincent (drums)
Mel Torme (vocals)

ARRANGEMENTS BY
Gerry Mulligan
John Lewis
Gil Evans
John Carisi

TRACKS/FAIXAS
1. Israel
2. Deception
3. Move
4. Rouge
5. Rocker
6. Godchild
7. Moon Dreams
8. Venus De Milo
9. Budo
10. Boplicity
11. Darn That Dream
12. Jeru