Night Lights

NIGHT LIGHTS isn't your typical Gerry Mulligan session, the music somewhat warmer than is usually the case for this musician. "Night Lights" itself is a beautiful mood piece with the leader providing the hauntingly simple theme on piano himself. (An added CD bonus is the inclusion of another version from 1965 on which Mulligan takes the lead on clarinet.) The inclusion of "Morning Of The Carnival" from BLACK ORPHEUS also gives the session a Brazilian-cum-classical feeling as does the straightforward adaptation of Chopin's "Prelude In E Minor." As to be expected, guitarist Jim Hall, trumpeter Art Farmer, and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer all provide sterling support, with the trombonist excelling on the bossa nova numbers. This is Easy Listening with some heft.