The press of Art Pepper business distracted Rifftides from noting that yesterday was the birthday of Gerry Mulligan. He would have been 90. On the occasion, Franca Mulligan sent news about an event in her husband’s honor that is sponsored by their foundation as a means of aiding young musicians. For information, go here.
For a reminder of how well Mulligan played as he approached the end of his life and how much fun he had doing it, here he is in 1991 with Bill Mays, piano; Dean Johnson, bass; and Dave Ratajezak, drums. “Line For Lyons†was one of Mulligan’s signature compositions.