Interesting (in process) 5-part Bob Whitlock interview

[Larry Kart]

http://www.jazzwax.com./

Today's part 3 has much of interest to say about Mulligan and Baker -- their personalities and respective talents. Whitlock, as he explains in part 2, was the person who brought Baker into the group.

[GA Russell]

Thanks, Larry. I've bookmarked it.

[Big Beat Steve]

Yes - very interesting. Thank you!!

[AllenLowe]

great interview, and confirms my general impression of Mulligan, whose playing I haven't liked since the first time I heard it at age 14. I actually don't even think he's that interesting as a composer. His whole ouevre has always struck me as mediocre mainstream work disguised as non-confirmity.

though, as you know, I am in a very small minority in thinking this.

Edited August 9, 2012 by AllenLowe

[Head Man]

great interview, and confirms my general impression of Mulligan, whose playing I haven't liked since the first time I heard it at age 14. I actually don't even think he's that interesting as a composer. His whole ouevre has always struck me as mediocre mainstream work disguised as non-confirmity.

though, as you know, I am in a very small minority in thinking this.

A minority of one?

[colinmce]

To each their own! But I dunno if I really buy the non-conformity angle; I sure don't see Mulligan selling that. The 50s were chock full of reliable mainstream composers and arrangers, and I think Gerry's one of the very best. He's not George Russell, but he was never trying to be. As far as his playing, I can't speak to his ideas but I know I could just listen to him go forever.

[AllenLowe]

what I mean is that he placed himself in the avant garde of that era - but was really very ordinary, both as a composer/arranger and soloist. Compare him to Johnny Carisi, whose work was edgy and pushing things - Mulligan was just middle of the road.

[colinmce]

I can agree with that. But as far as MOR goes it doesn't get much better.

[Larry Kart]

Allen -- We've exchanged view son Mulligan before, I think, but to me he was always very charming and quite individual as a composer/arranger and at his best a good deal more than that (e.g. his sublime version of "All the Things You Are" for Columbia). As a soloist I thought he was, as Whitlock says, rather formulaic, and not a patch on Chaloff, Gullin, Bob Gordon, et al. during his years of peak celebrity, but he did get a good deal better/less formulaic as a soloist in his later years.

[Chuck Nessa]

but he did get a good deal better/less formulaic as a soloist in his later years.

I had lost interest by then.

[AllenLowe]

yes, I am a recidivist in my views on Mulligan; and I like all of the bari players Larry named.

[JSngry]

Let's talk about hair.

[robertoart]

Was he on this one? And did we find out if he was a 'natural' redhead?

Edited August 23, 2012 by freelancer