A Saxophonist Holding His Ground with the Modernists
Gonsalves proved he could stand alongside younger players without compromise or apology.
In 1960, Paul Gonsalves walked into the studio with musicians younger and steeped in the harder modernist language of jazz. The session itself was a statement — not a farewell to his established style, but a deliberate choice to test himself against fresh currents. Gonsalves was already well known for his work with Duke Ellington, but Gettin' Together! was something different: a chance to show what he could do in a smaller setting, with players who represented a different generation's approach to the instrument.
What emerged was straight-ahead, unpretentious playing that proved Gonsalves had nothing to prove. The album doesn't sound like a veteran trying to sound young or a traditionalist grudgingly accepting modern changes. Instead, it's a musician at ease with his own capabilities, swinging hard and listening carefully to whoever he was sharing the session with. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it a perfect four stars, calling it a remarkable album, beautifully played and recorded. AllMusic's Scott Yanow awarded it 4 1/2 stars, noting that the music showed Gonsalves was quite capable of playing with younger modernists.
For listeners coming to Gonsalves outside of his Duke work, this is an ideal entry point — not a definitive statement of his artistry, but a solid, engaging session that stands on its own. It's the kind of album that doesn't need to prove anything to you because it already proved everything to itself.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by Paul Gonsalves
All 17 albums →
The musicians on this record
Kelly Blue 1959
Wynton Kelly
plays piano here
plays piano here
The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York 1962
Nat Adderley
plays cornet here
plays cornet here
