The Second Great Gerry Mulligan Quartet in Paris: 1954.

Tonight is a concert presentation of the "Second Great Gerry Mulligan Quartet" before a rapt and enthusiastic French audience in Paris in June 1954. The first edition of the Mulligan pianoless Quartet had trumpeter Chet Baker on the front line with baritone saxophonist Mulligan and was one of the most popular and talked about combos of it's time. Due to a variety of circumstances the Baker & Mulligan Quartet ended and after a time Mulligan reassembled the group with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer on the front line with Mulligan plus a new rhythm section with the great Red Mitchell on bass and the shamefully underrated drum master Frank Isola. They were booked to play in Paris and were welcomed like a liberating army. Both Mulligan and Brookmeyer were also great composers along with being two of the leading voices on their horns so it was a perfect fit. These concert recordings are tonight's Jazz Feature and demonstrate how fresh and new this band still sounds after so many years. Check it out tonight and you'll be glad you did.