Jazz saxophonist, bandleader, composer and arranger Gerry Mulligan was perhaps the best-known and most celebrated exponent of the baritone sax in the history of genre. Although a native New Yorker, he became associated with the West Coast “cool school” of modern jazz in the 1950s and participated in numerous landmark recordings during his career. He became especially well-known for his collaborations during the early ‘50s with trumpeter Chet Baker (see “The Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker Collection 1952-53” Acrobat ADDCD 3339), but later in the decade he also made albums with several other jazz luminaries of the era, and this collection comprises the complete contents of five of those. 

This 33-track 3-CD collections features the titles from from the Verve albums “Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi”, “Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet”, “Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster”, “Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges”, and the Riverside album “Mulligan Meets Monk”. Quite apart from the headline collaborators , it also includes performances by notable musicians of the day who were in the bands – Joe Benjamin, Lou Levy, Ray Brown, Jimmy Rowles, Mel Lewis, Claude Williamson, Buddy Clark and more. 

Capturing the great saxophonist creating albums with his illustrious peers, it naturally offers an enlightening and enjoyable showcase for his unique talents.

CD 1
1. LET'S DO IT (LET'S FALL IN LOVE) Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
2. ANYTHING GOES Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
3. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
4. THAT OLD FEELING Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
5. THIS CAN'T BE LOVE Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
6. BALLAD Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
7. SCRAPPLE FROM THE APPLE Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
8. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS Gerry Mulligan & Stan Getz 
From the album “Getz Meets Mulligan In Hi-Fi” 
(Verve MGV8249)   1957
Los Angeles, October 12, 1957
Stan Getz And Gerry Mulligan : Stan Getz (ts, bar) Gerry Mulligan (bar, ts) Lou Levy (p) Ray Brown (b) Stan Levey (d)

9. STRAIGHT, NO CHASER Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan 
10. RHYTHM-A-NING Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan 
11. DECIDEDLY Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan
From the album” Mulligan Meets Monk”  
(Riverside RLP12-247)    1957
New York, August 12, 1957
Thelonious Monk And Gerry Mulligan : Gerry Mulligan (bar) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)

CD 2
1. 'ROUND MIDNIGHT Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan 
2. SWEET AND LOVELY Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan 
3. I MEAN YOU Thelonious Monk & Gerry Mulligan 
From the album” Mulligan Meets Monk”  
(Riverside RLP12-247)    1957
Thelonious Monk And Gerry Mulligan : Gerry Mulligan (bar) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d)

4. BLUES IN TIME Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
5. BODY AND SOUL Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
6. STAND STILL Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
7. LINE FOR LYONS Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
8. WINTERSONG Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
9. BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLICAN Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
10. FALL OUT Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet 
From the album “Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet”
(Verve MGV8246)  1957
New York, August 27, 1957
Gerry Mulligan (bar) Joe Benjamin (b) Dave Bailey (d)

11. TELL ME WHEN Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
From the album “Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster”
(Verve MGV8343)   1960
Los Angeles, November 3, 1959
Gerry Mulligan/Ben Webster Quintet : Ben Webster (ts) Gerry Mulligan (bar) Jimmy Rowles (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Mel Lewis (d)

CD 3
1. CHELSEA BRIDGE Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
2. THE CAT WALK Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
3. SUNDAY Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
4. WHO'S GOT RHYTHM Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
5. GO HOME Gerry Mulligan & Ben Webster 
From the album “Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster”
(Verve MGV8343)   1960
Los Angeles, November 3, 1959
Gerry Mulligan/Ben Webster Quintet : Ben Webster (ts) Gerry Mulligan (bar) Jimmy Rowles (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Mel Lewis (d)

6. BUNNY Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
7. WHAT'S THE RUSH Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
8. BACK BEAT Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
9. WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
10. 18 CARROTS FOR RABBIT Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
11. SHADY SIDE Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges 
From the album “Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges”
(Verve    MGV8367)    1960
Los Angeles, November 17, 1959
Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges : Johnny Hodges (as) Gerry Mulligan (bar) Claude Williamson (p) Buddy Clark (b) Mel Lewis (d)