Gerry Mulligan Astor Piazzolla
Summit

“Even when they invented jazz-tango to create a sensation, I joined in because I needed to become known. Even then I threw myself into the adventure with irony, with skepticism, but the tango caught me and enveloped me, forcing me to believe in that operation which was purely commercial. And when I recorded "Summit" with Mulligan in Milan, he too didn't believe in it but ended up being enchanted by it”

With these words, Astor Piazzolla describes the birth of an in many ways accidental collaboration that turned out to be innovative and greatly significant for the meeting of two expressive worlds hitherto separate and seemingly irreconcilable.

At that time, we're talking about '74 and around, Piazzolla, with his faithful bandoneon, was a household name in Italy where he appeared on TV with Mina and where he made numerous albums that later became essential in his otherwise vast production. Albums like "Libertango" and the "Suite Troileana" came to light in those years right in Italy.

On his part, Gerry Mulligan was living in Milan where he frequented jazz clubs and was very popular for the amount of  concerts and collaborations. His baritone saxophone was a point of reference in those years and it was a privilege to host and play with him.

 The Summit took place right in Milan and was recorded with the help of Italian musicians, and I don't want to do anyone an injustice by mentioning among others the young Tullio De Piscopo and guitarist Bruno De Filippi, but also Alberto Baldan, Filippo Daccò, Angel Pocho Gatti, Giuseppe Prestipino, Gianni Zilioli, Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli, Renato Riccio, and Ennio Miori. The ensemble was completed by a string orchestra.

It was a practically orchestral recording, rather complicated and laborious, especially due to the continuous changes that the two leaders constantly made.

The tracks, all by Piazzolla except one by Mulligan, have become classics with the standout being the title track with its magical crescendo.

A true concert for bandoneon, saxophone, and orchestra. A record of rare beauty that has been defined as a hymn to life.

Certainly, it carries on its shoulders a good 35 years of elegant and refined existence, and believe me, it does so magnificently.