A&M Records Stereo

I listened to this album during my first weeks in College--I was hooked then; I'm hooked now.

Right on the cusp between traditional big band jazz and cutting edge jazz-rock fusion, Mulligan's Age of Steam comes down firmly on the side of traditional jazz, BUT, Age of Steam not only swings, it rocks.

In contrast to Miles' improvisations (Live-Evil; Bitches Brew), or Chick Corea's Return to Forever, Mulligan places electric guitars and bass firmly in the big band tradition. But if you are expecting Fletcher Henderson (or Count Basie, for that matter), prepare to be surprised. This albumn should rank right up there with Birth of theCool (for which Mulligan was also the arranger) as cutting edge jazz. Instead, Age of Steam has been relegated to obscurity.

Side 1.

1. One to Ten in Ohio 4:13
2. K-4 Pacific Mulligan 5:03
3. Grand Tour 4:08
4. Over the Hill and Our of the Woods 8:40

Side 2.

5. Country Beaver 3:06
6. Weed in Disneyland 4:13
7. Golden Notebooks 4:12
8. Maytag 4:17

Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, piano) * Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roger Bobo (trumpet) * Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone) * Jimmy Cleveland (trombone) * Ken Shroyer (bass trombone) * Bud Shank (alto saxophone, flute) * Tom Scott (tenor & soprano saxophone) * Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone) * Roger Kellaway (electric piano) * Howard Roberts (guitar) * Emil Richards (vibraphone) * Chuck Domanico (bass) * John Guerin (drums) * Joe Porcaro (percussion, drums)