Danny's Dream 1953-1955

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 01:10:02
Personnel: Lars Gullin (baritone saxophone, piano); Rolf Berg (guitar); Robert Edman, Alan Dawson (drums). Recording information: 11/05/1953-10/26/1955. Lars Gullin's eighth volume of reissued recordings for the Dragon label is a compilation of studio sessions with a small ensemble originally done for the Metronome label, produced on vinyl EPs for the EmArcy label, and now available on compact disc. The Jimmy Raney influenced guitarist Rolf Berg and bassist George Riedel are featured throughout with various drummers, one being the legendary drummer Alan Dawson who was on tour in Sweden with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra at the time, and was coerced to sit in on four tracks. The baritone sax of Gullin, captured in these three separate mid-'50s sessions done in Stockholm, bears his fully refined and remarkably cool tone parallel to Gerry Mulligan, remaining dedicated to bebop. The majority of these tracks were written by Gullin, sporting astoundingly complex but liquid fluid melody lines played in a restrained volume with utter mastery so that it seems simple, when it is far from that. The baritone saxophonist's craft lies in terms of originality going beyond his beautiful playing or interesting composing, and there's a high level of thoughtful sophistication he brings to the table. Listen closely to the first four tracks from the winter of 1953, three with tenor saxophonist Carl-Henrik Norin, and Dawson, a master of brush technique. It's easy to hear Gullin's complete command on the bopper "Bugs," the counterpoint with Berg and Norin during "Jump for Fan," even more concentrated on Riedel's witty composition "Stocks & Bonds," and the serene, sighing ballad sans Norin, "I Fall in Love Too Easily," all masterpieces. Four more selections from spring 1954 omit Dawson but include Robert Edman, again all are originals of the leader. "Danny's Dream" (for Gullin's then four-year-old son) is the most famous, a very soft ballad featuring Berg, while "Be Careful," "Igloo," and "Circus" are all bop vehicles that showcase the spirit and unity of the quartet. It's interesting to note that Gullin uses no pianist as a third chordal vehicle, similar to Mulligan, but he plays the 88s himself, switching to the keyboard on three takes of "Manchester Fog" opposite Berg's chiming or off-minor guitar and Riedel's bowed bass. Bo Stoor is the drummer on these sessions from early 1955, which also include two runs at the light bopper "Lars Meets Jeff" (for his British manager Jeff Kruger), with take four issued here being more cohesive and energetic, single recordings of Riedel's pristine, chamber-like Asiatic flavored "A La Carte," and the solid closing bop statement "Soho." These were turbulent times for Gullin, who was involved in narcotics, a car accident, and committed to a psychiatric home in between these dates, as skillfully written about in the liner notes. Because there are various alternate takes selectively included (mostly first or second) one could only hope for complete studio recordings to eventually be issued from these marvelous sessions made by Gullin and his Swedish bandmates. ~ Michael G. Nastos
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)