© -Steven
Cerra , copyright protected; all rights reserved.
Leave it to Gerry
Mulligan to open the second half of his performance at the 1988 Glasgow Jazz Festival with a rip-roaring arrangement
by his New Concert Jazz Band of his original composition entitled … wait for it
… The Flying Scotsman.
Beginning in 1924,
the legendary locomotive sped its passengers from London Edinburgh
Gerry always had a
fascination with steam-driven railroad engines, so much so that he named a
number of his original compositions after them and even entitled a CD in their
honor – The Age of Steam [A&M CD 0804].
Gerry
re-established his “New” Concert Jazz Band at a time in his career when he had the discretionary time to once again composed and arrange for a big band. He was like a kid with a
new toy; he loved every minute of it.
This version of
Gerry’s The Flying Scotsman contains
two “shout choruses:” one that the full band plays after Gerry solo and the
trumpet/trombone trade-off solos [beginning at 3:00 minutes]; the other follows
the solos by pianist Bill Charlap and bassist Dean Johnson, who is a powerhouse
through the piece [beginning at 4:47 minutes].
“Live” Jazz
doesn’t get anymore exciting than this.
