"That Old Feeling" marks a significant moment on the 1957 Verve album Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi, as it is the first track where both saxophonists return to their primary instruments. Gerry Mulligan opens with two choruses on baritone saxophone over the 32-bar ABAC form in D major at 181 beats per minute, his warm, buoyant tone immediately identifiable as the sound that helped define the West Coast jazz movement. Stan Getz follows with two choruses on tenor, his luminous tone and effortless swing restoring the instrument pairing that listeners expected from these two masters. The contrast between the baritone's round warmth and the tenor's bright clarity creates a tonal dialogue that is among the album's most satisfying moments. Pianist Lou Levy contributes a single chorus of swinging improvisation. Sammy Fain's 1937 composition provides an attractive harmonic framework, its ABAC form offering more variety than the AABA structure that dominates the standard repertoire. The rhythm section of Levy, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Stan Levey drives the performance with the precision and swing that characterized the best West Coast recording sessions. This track delivers the natural sound of two great saxophonists in their element, a welcome complement to the album's more experimental instrument-swap tracks.
