California Concerts | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 1955 | |||
Recorded | November 12 and December 14, 1954 Stockton High School, Stockton, CA and Hoover High School, San Diego, CA | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Label | Pacific Jazz | |||
Producer | Richard Bock | |||
Gerry Mulligan chronology | ||||
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California Concerts (also referred to as Jazz Goes to High School) is a live album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded at the Stockton High School and Hoover High School in California in late 1954 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. [1] [2] The original LP was the first 12 inch LP to be released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1955. The Gerry Mulligan feature track "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" with Bob Brookmeyer on piano was first released on the compilation LP The Genius of Gerry Mulligan in 1960. Although the tracks were recorded at a high school, recording took place on weekends and in the evening. Chet Baker was originally chosen to be the trumpet player of the session, but was jailed for his ongoing heroin addiction, so trumpeter Jon Eardley took Baker’s place sounding very similar to Baker.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [4] |
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow said, "The music, comprised of standards, some blues and a few Mulligan originals, is quite enjoyable, swinging lightly and with plenty of interplay between the horns". [3]
All compositions by Gerry Mulligan except as indicated
Original LP release:
Side one:
Side two:
Subsequent CD reissues split the album into two volumes of separate complete concerts
CD reissue - Volume 1: Stockton High School
CD reissue - Volume 2: Hoover High School
Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Gerry Mulligan's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre, before rejoining Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band. He garnered 8 Grammy Award nominations during his lifetime.
John Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big band, afterward enjoying a long solo career, often in partnership with fellow saxmen Gerry Mulligan and Al Cohn.
Gerald Joseph Mulligan, also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz—Mulligan was also a significant arranger working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz ensembles. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions including "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers", have become standards.
Swingtime! is an album by the Canadian Brass, released in 1995. The album featured arrangements of several jazz standards.
Mose John Allison Jr. was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to New York in 1956, he worked primarily in jazz settings, playing with jazz musicians like Stan Getz, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims, along with producing numerous recordings.
Al Cohn was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zoot Sims.
Gus Johnson was an American swing drummer in various jazz bands, born in Tyler, Texas, United States. After learning to play drums from his next-door neighbor, Johnson occasionally played professionally at the age of ten in the Lincoln Theater, and performed in various local groups, most notable McDavid's Blue Rhythm Band. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson moved to Kansas City, where he took up drumming full-time. He joined Jay McShann's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his conscription into the military in 1943.
Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster, also simply called Meets Ben Webster, is a 1960 album featuring the November 3 - December 2 studio sessions of American jazz musicians Gerry Mulligan and Ben Webster. In a 2003 review, All That Jazz described this album as the most significant of Gerry Mulligan's work partnering other legendary figures of jazz. The album, as a "classic album from two giants", is featured in NPR's "Basic Jazz Record Library". Originally released on the Verve label, the album was reissued by the label many times (as well as by Mobile Fidelity) before being re-released in an expanded edition called Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster (Complete) by Verve in 1997.
Stan Getz at The Shrine is a live jazz album by American saxophonist Stan Getz, recorded in 1954. It was originally released in 1955 on Norgran Records as a 2 LP set, then reissued on CD by Verve as MGV 8188–2. This was the first concert recording for Stan Getz.
Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet is an album led by American jazz baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring tracks recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.
Mainstream of Jazz is an album led by American jazz baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan with tracks recorded in 1956 which were released by EmArcy.
Live at the Berlin Philharmonie is a 1970 live album by Dave Brubeck and his trio with Gerry Mulligan recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie. It was reissued in 1995 with several bonus tracks. The album peaked at 21 on the Billboard Top Jazz Charts.
Spring Is Sprung is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's Quartet featuring performances recorded in late 1962 and first released on the Philips label.
Recorded in Boston at Storyville is a live album by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet from performances recorded at the Storyville nightclub in late 1956 and released by Pacific Jazz.
The Concert Jazz Band is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1960 which were released on the Verve label.
Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour is a live album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in California, Berlin and Milan 1960 which were released on the Verve label. In the CD era it has been superseded by The Complete Santa Monica Concert
Gerry Mulligan '63 is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in late 1962 which were released on the Verve label.
Paris Concert is a live album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in June 1954 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. In 1966, Pacific Jazz released an album with the same title but with a slightly different track listing and edited versions of previously released tracks. The original recordings were made by Disques Vogue who issued the recordings in France.
Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 2 is an album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1953 and originally released as a 10-inch LP on the Pacific Jazz label. In 2001 Pacific Jazz re-released the album on CD with additional alternate takes and 12" masters along with five live tracks.
The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport is a live album by Teddy Wilson's Trio and Gerry Mulligan's Quartet recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957 and released on the Verve label.