In late 1993 jazz masters Billy Taylor and Gerry Mulligan performed a series of concerts at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) in Pittsburgh, PA for the first time together. The result of those performances is "Billy Taylor and Gerry Mulligan, Live at MCG." During the concert weekend MCG also taped the pilot program for what became "Billy Taylor's Jazz from the Kennedy Center." That NPR series went on to become one of the most successful national radio series of all time. Billy Taylor and Gerry Mulligan were the best of friends on and off the bandstand - which can genuinely be heard throughout this entire performance. You will hear them finishing each others phases and laughing at each other's musical jokes. Their duet on "All The Things You Are" is a glowing example of their shared musical heritage and life-long bond.
All of the songs on Billy Taylor and Gerry Mulligan, Live at MCG are beloved classics including the two original tunes, "Line for Lyons" by Gerry Mulligan and "Capricious" by Billy Taylor. Others including "Stompin' At The Savoy" "Body And Soul," and Ellington's "Come Sunday," make this live recording date a classic for all times.
