Gerry Mulligan, Jazz America (MVD Visual).
The film's opening alternates clips of Mulligan smiling, playing his baritone sax and speaking. That brief documentary sequence establishes the good feeling that prevails in this 1981 performance at Eric's, a New York club. From there on, it's all music. Mulligan's rhythm section—pianist Harold Danko, bassist Frank Luther, drummer Billy Hart—are locked into the spirit, one another and their leader. It's a flawless set of Mulligan tunes of the period, including “North Atlantic Run," “Song for Strayhorn" and “K-4 Pacific." Gary Keys' cinematography has the intimacy of tight closeups, just enough camera movement and no cute tricks. The sound by Jim Anderson is excellent.
The film's opening alternates clips of Mulligan smiling, playing his baritone sax and speaking. That brief documentary sequence establishes the good feeling that prevails in this 1981 performance at Eric's, a New York club. From there on, it's all music. Mulligan's rhythm section—pianist Harold Danko, bassist Frank Luther, drummer Billy Hart—are locked into the spirit, one another and their leader. It's a flawless set of Mulligan tunes of the period, including “North Atlantic Run," “Song for Strayhorn" and “K-4 Pacific." Gary Keys' cinematography has the intimacy of tight closeups, just enough camera movement and no cute tricks. The sound by Jim Anderson is excellent.
