Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan Quartet, 1955 on Pacific Jazz

This was a compilation of tracks previously issued on three different 10″ records issued by Pacific Jazz in 1952 and 1953: PJ LP-1, PJ LP-2, and PJ LP-5.

Besides Mulligan and Baker, the musicians include Larry Bunker or Chico Hamilton (drums) and Carson Smith or Bob Whitlock (bass).

The cover painting is by Keith Finch, part of a series in which Pacific Jazz worked with West Coast artists. The back cover notes “Reproductions of the cover painting suitable for framing are available to you at 50c per copy postpaid.” Wonder if they’d honor that nearly 70 years later.

My copy looks to be a 1957 pressing (see “REmastered REissue” on the labels) from RCA’s Hollywood plant. The cover has seen better days, but the vinyl is in great shape.

Via Crossroads Records in Portland OR.

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Gerry Mulligan Tentette & Quartet, Walking Shoes, 1953 on Capitol

This LP was a reissue of what had been a 10″ record – Gerry Mulligan And His Ten-Tette – with two tracks from Gene Norman Presents The Gerry Mulligan Quartet added. Just as labels created bonus tracks when reissuing LPs on CD, these were bonus tracks added when the 10″ became a 12″ LP.

The sessions were held January 29th, January 31st, and May 7th in Los Angeles. The quartet includes Chet Baker, Carson Smith and Larry Bunker. The Tentette includes Chet Baker, Pete Candoli, Bob Enevoldsen, John Graas, Ray Siegal, Bud Shank, Don Davidson, Joe Mondragon and Chico Hamilton or Larry Bunker (in two different sessions).

My copy, via Cheap Thrills in Montreal QC, is actually a Canadian pressing of a 70s reissue as part of the Quintessence Jazz Series (a budget label from the late 70s – part of the Pickwick International family).

#1950s #1953 #1979 #BobEnevoldson #BudShank #Capitol #CarsonSmith #CheapThrills #ChetBaker #ChicoHamilton #DonDavidson #GerryMulligan #GerryMulliganQuartet #GerryMulliganTentette #JoeMondragon #JohnGraas #LarryBunker #MontrealQC #PeteCandoli #Quebec #QuintessenceJazzSeries #Reissue #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds