California Concerts


California Concerts is a live album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded at the Stockton High School and Hoover High School in California in late 1954 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. The original LP was the first 12 inch LP to be released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1955. The Gerry Mulligan feature track "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" with Bob Brookmeyer on piano was first released on the compilation LP The Genius of Gerry Mulligan in 1960. Although the tracks were recorded at a high school, recording took place on weekends and in the evening. Chet Baker was originally chosen to be the trumpet player of the session, but was jailed for his ongoing heroin addiction, so trumpeter Jon Eardley took Baker’s place sounding very similar to Baker.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow said, "The music, standards, some blues and a few Mulligan originals, is quite enjoyable, swinging lightly and with plenty of interplay between the horns".

Track listing

All compositions by Gerry Mulligan except as indicated
Original LP release:
Side one:
  1. "Blues Going Up" - 5:32
  2. "Little Girl Blue" - 5:11
  3. "Piano Blues" - 5:45
  4. "Yardbird Suite" - 6:25
Side two:
  1. "Western Reunion" - 7:16
  2. "I Know, Don't Know How" - 5:28
  3. "The Red Door" - 7:14
Subsequent CD reissues split the album into two volumes of separate complete concerts
CD reissue - Volume 1: Stockton High School
  1. "Blues Going Up" - 5:32
  2. "Little Girl Blues" - 5:11
  3. "Piano Blues" - 5:45
  4. "Yardbird Suite" - 6:25
  5. "Blues for Tiny" - 3:35 Previously released on PJ-8
  6. "Soft Shoe" - 3:46 Previously released on JWC-500
  7. "Makin' Whoopee" - 3:14 Previously unreleased
  8. "Darn That Dream" - 5:31 Previously unreleased
  9. "Ontet" - 4:10 Previously unreleased
  10. "A Bark for Barksdale/Crazy Chico" - 8:18 Previously released on WP-1247
CD reissue - Volume 2: Hoover High School
  1. "Makin' Whoopee" - 3:14 Previously unreleased
  2. "Nights at the Turntable" - 3:06 Previously unreleased
  3. "Blues for Tiny" - 5:20 Previously unreleased
  4. "Frenesí" - 3:16 Previously unreleased
  5. "Limelight" - 3:44 Previously unreleased
  6. "People Will Say We're in Love" - 4:04 Previously unreleased
  7. "Western Reunion" - 7:16
  8. "I Know, Don't Know How" - 5:28
  9. "The Red Door" - 7:14
  10. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" - 6:59 Previously released on PJ-8
  11. "I'll Remember April" - 4:20 Previously unreleased
  12. "There Will Never Be Another You" - 5:37 Previously unreleased
  13. "It Don't Mean a Thing " - 3:50 Previously unreleased
  14. "Ellington Medley: In a Sentimental Mood/Flamingo/Moon Mist" - 5:50 Previously unreleased in full

    Personnel