Paul Desmond & Gerry Mulligan - Two Of A Mind (Speakers Corner)
Gerry Mulligan - bass [click here to see more vinyl featuring Gerry Mulligan]
Paul Desmond - alto saxophone [click here to see more vinyl featuring Paul Desmond]
Joe Benjamin, John Beal, Wendell Marshall (bass)
Connie Kay, Mel Lewis (drums)
Written by Oscar Hammerstein II (A1), Jerome Kern (A1, B2), Hoagy Carmichael (A2), Mitchell Parish (A2), Paul Desmond (A3), Gerry Mulligan (B1), Dorothy Fields (B2), Johnny Green (B3), Edward Heyman (B3)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Speakers Corner
Original Label : RCA
Recording: 1962 at RCA Victor's Studio A, New York City by Ray Hall, Bob Simpson and Mickey Crofford
Production: Bob Prince and George Avakian
Originally released in 1962
Tracks:
Side A :
1. All The Things You Are
2. Stardust
3. Two Of a Mind
Side B :
1. Blight Of The Fumble Bee
2. The Way You Look Tonight
3. Out Of Nowhere
Reviews :
« Altoist Paul Desmond and baritonist Gerry Mulligan always made for a perfect team during their infrequent collaborations. Both of the saxophonists had immediately distinctive light tones, strong wits, and the ability to improvise melodically. Here the two masterful reed players are featured in pianoless quartets that also include Wendell Marshall, Joe Benjamin or John Beal on bass, and Connie Kay or Mel Lewis on drums. The songs all utilize common chord changes, including the two "originals" ("Two of a Mind" and "Blight of the Fumble Bee"), and the interplay between Desmond and Mulligan is consistently delightful. Highly recommended. » AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Although the beautiful sound, mutual understanding and harmonic balance mostly predominate, the music of alto saxophonist Paul Desmond performing together with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan is far from what one calls 'easy listening'. For many, it is even difficult to identify the melody of evergreens such as "Stardust" and "The Way You Look Tonight". (And what theme is tucked away in "Two Of A Mind"????)
The recording in the RCA Victor Studio took place over several days in 1962, and this is why different bass players and percussionists are heard – Wendell Marshall, Joe Benjamin and John Beal each take their turn on the bass, while Connie Kay and Mel Lewis change places behind the drum set. These musicians form a brilliant team, and that there is no piano is both deliberate and inevitable for Gerry Mulligan recordings of the day. By the way, the second saxophonist in "The Way You Look Tonight" is Paul Desmond – by means of over-dubbing in the middle of the stereo recording!
The present LP could certainly take a rightful place in a 'Best Of' collection alongside the other recordings by Gerry Mulligan with Ben Webster and Stan Getz.
Ratings :
Allmusic : 4.3 / 5 , Discogs : Rate Your Music :