Gerry Mulligan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerry Mulligan
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Portrait of Mulligan, c. 1980s, by William P. Gottlieb
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gerald Joseph Mulligan |
| Born | April 6, 1927 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 1996 (aged 68) Darien, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1946–1996 |
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Gerald Joseph Mulligan (born April 6, 1927 – died January 20, 1996) was an American jazz musician. He was a talented saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and arranger. Mulligan was best known for playing the baritone saxophone. He played it with a light, airy sound, which was perfect for the "cool jazz" style.
Mulligan was also a very important arranger. He worked with famous musicians like Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, and Stan Kenton. In the early 1950s, he formed a special group called the "pianoless quartet" with trumpeter Chet Baker. This group is still seen as one of the best cool jazz bands ever. Mulligan could also play the piano and other reed instruments. Some of his songs, like "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers," are now jazz classics.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Musical Start
Gerry Mulligan was born in Queens Village, Queens, New York. His parents were George and Louise Mulligan. His father was from Delaware and had Irish roots. His mother was from Philadelphia and had Irish and German family. Gerry was the youngest of four brothers.
His father was an engineer, so the family moved often. When Gerry was very young, they moved to Marion, Ohio. There, his mother hired a nanny named Lily Rose. Lily was very kind to Gerry. He loved spending time at her house. She had a player piano that played music rolls, including songs by Fats Waller. Sometimes, Black musicians would stay at Lily's house because many motels would not let them in. Young Gerry sometimes met these musicians.
The family kept moving, living in South Jersey, Chicago, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. In Kalamazoo, Gerry went to a Catholic school. When the school started music classes, he chose to play the clarinet in the orchestra. He even tried to arrange a song called "Lover."
When Gerry was 14, his family moved to Detroit and then to Reading, Pennsylvania. In Reading, he studied clarinet with Sammy Correnti. Sammy also encouraged Gerry to arrange music. Gerry began playing the saxophone professionally in dance bands in Philadelphia.
The Mulligan family then moved to Philadelphia. Gerry went to West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys. He started a school big band and wrote music for it. When he was 16, he began writing arrangements for the house band at radio station WCAU. The bandleader, Johnny Warrington, was impressed and bought Gerry's music.
Starting a Professional Career
Gerry left high school to work with a touring band. He joined bandleader Tommy Tucker as an arranger. He earned $100 a week to write two or three arrangements. After three months, Tucker told Gerry to find a band that was more exciting. Gerry went back to Philadelphia. He started writing for Elliot Lawrence, who was the new bandleader at WCAU.
In January 1946, Mulligan moved to New York City. He joined Gene Krupa's band as an arranger. This band played bebop jazz. Gerry's arrangements for Krupa included "Birdhouse" and "Disc Jockey Jump."
Next, Mulligan began arranging for the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. He sometimes played in their reed section. He met Gil Evans while working with Krupa. Evans was also an arranger for Thornhill. Mulligan eventually lived with Evans. Evans' apartment became a meeting place for jazz musicians. They worked together to create new jazz sounds.
The Birth of the Cool Sound
In September 1948, Miles Davis formed a special nine-piece band. This band used arrangements by Mulligan, Evans, and John Lewis. Gerry Mulligan played the baritone saxophone in this group. Other members included Miles Davis on trumpet and Lee Konitz on alto saxophone.
The band didn't play many live shows. But over the next few years, Davis brought the group together three times to record twelve songs. These recordings were later released as the Birth of the Cool album in 1957. Mulligan wrote and arranged three of these songs: "Rocker," "Venus de Milo," and "Jeru" (named after himself). He also arranged three other songs.
Mulligan was one of only four musicians who played on all the recordings. Even though audiences in 1949 didn't fully understand the music, this group became one of the most important in jazz history. They created a new sound that became known as West Coast Jazz.
During this time, Mulligan also worked with trombonist Kai Winding. His song "Elevation" and his arrangement of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" were recorded by Elliot Lawrence. This helped Mulligan gain more recognition.
In September 1951, Mulligan recorded his first album as a bandleader, Mulligan Plays Mulligan. By this time, he had developed his own clear, melodic playing style.
In early 1952, Mulligan moved to Los Angeles. He started writing arrangements for Stan Kenton's Orchestra. While much of this work was for dance performances, Mulligan also wrote some of his own important songs. His compositions "Walking Shoes" and "Young Blood" showed his unique style of playing different melodies at the same time.
The Pianoless Quartet with Chet Baker
While working for Kenton, Mulligan started playing at a small jazz club called The Haig. During jam sessions, a young trumpeter named Chet Baker joined him. Mulligan and Baker began recording together. At the club, the piano was removed because another band didn't need it.
Without a piano, Mulligan decided to try something new. He formed a quartet without a piano. It included Baker on trumpet, Carson Smith on bass, and Chico Hamilton on drums. Sometimes, Mulligan himself would play the piano. These early live shows were recorded by Richard Bock. Bock later started Pacific Jazz Records and released Mulligan's music.
Baker's melodic trumpet playing fit perfectly with Mulligan's style. They created music where their instruments played off each other without a piano guiding the chords. This sound was new and exciting. Mulligan later said he had never felt such a strong musical connection with anyone else. Their shows at The Haig sold out, and their recordings became very popular.
This successful partnership ended for a time. When Mulligan was ready to play again, Chet Baker had become a star on his own. They did play together again occasionally, including at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival.
Middle Career and Big Bands
Mulligan continued his quartet without a piano. Bob Brookmeyer joined on valve trombone, sometimes playing piano too. This quartet style stayed at the heart of Mulligan's groups through the 1950s. Other musicians like Zoot Sims and Lee Konitz also played with him. In 1957, Mulligan and his wife, Arlyne Brown Mulligan, had a son named Reed.
Mulligan also studied piano with Suezenne Fordham. She helped many jazz musicians improve their piano skills.
Mulligan often played as a guest musician with many jazz stars of the late 1950s. These included Paul Desmond, Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, and Dave Brubeck. He was also in the famous photo "A Great Day in Harlem" in 1958, which featured 57 major jazz musicians.
In 1960, Mulligan formed his first "Concert Jazz Band." This was his way of playing big band music with a smaller group. The band changed in size and members, but usually had six brass instruments, five reed instruments (including Mulligan), and a two-piece rhythm section without a piano. The band toured and recorded many albums until 1964.
Mulligan continued to work with smaller groups. After Dave Brubeck's quartet broke up in 1967, Mulligan often played with Brubeck as the "Gerry Mulligan / Dave Brubeck Quartet." They worked together on and off for many years.
In 1971, Mulligan created an important big band album called The Age of Steam. In the 1970s, he also performed with Charles Mingus. His Concert Jazz Band was reformed in 1978 with younger musicians and a full-time pianist. They toured in the 1980s.
Orchestral Work
Like many jazz musicians, Mulligan sometimes recorded with string instruments. In 1974, he worked with Argentine tango musician Ástor Piazzolla. While recording in Italy, Mulligan met his future wife, Franca Rota Borghini Baldovinetti.
Mulligan also started playing with orchestras. In 1970, he performed in Dave Brubeck's oratorio, The Light in the Wilderness.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Mulligan worked to create more music for the baritone saxophone with orchestras. He asked composers like Frank Proto and Harry Freedman to write saxophone concertos for him. In 1982, Zubin Mehta invited Mulligan to play soprano saxophone in a performance of Ravel's Boléro with the New York Philharmonic.
In 1984, Mulligan wrote his first orchestral piece, Entente for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra. He performed it with the Filarmonia Venetia. He also performed it with the London Symphony Orchestra.
In 1987, Mulligan performed his piece K-4 Pacific with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Tel Aviv. He also played with the Houston Symphony and Stockholm Philharmonic. In 1988, his chamber music piece Octet for Sea Cliff was first performed. In 1991, he wrote Momo's Clock, a piece for orchestra inspired by a book.
Last Years
Even with his orchestral work, Mulligan continued to play and record jazz. He usually performed with a quartet that included a piano.
In 1988, Mulligan was the first "Composer-in-Residence" at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival. He wrote a piece called The Flying Scotsman for it. In 1991, Mulligan talked to Miles Davis about re-recording music from their 1949 Birth of the Cool album. Davis was excited, but he died in September. Mulligan continued the project with Wallace Roney and Art Farmer playing trumpet. The album Re-Birth of the Cool was released in 1992. It featured the original music and some of the original musicians.
Mulligan's last recording was a quartet album called Dragonfly, made in 1995. He gave his final performance on a jazz cruise in November 1995.
Gerry Mulligan passed away in Darien, Connecticut, on January 20, 1996, at age 68. He had complications from knee surgery and was also battling liver cancer. After his death, his music collection and personal items, including his gold-plated baritone saxophone, were given to the Library of Congress. His saxophone is now on display there.
Theatre and Film
Gerry Mulligan appeared in several films. His first film role was likely in Follow That Music (1946) with Gene Krupa's orchestra. He had small parts in films like I Want to Live! (1958) and Jazz on a Summer's Day (1960). He also appeared in The Rat Race (1960) and Bells Are Ringing (1960) with his partner, Judy Holliday. Mulligan also performed on many TV shows.
As a film composer, Mulligan wrote music for movies like A Thousand Clowns (1965) and Luv (1967). He also wrote music for French films and I'm Not Rappaport (1996).
In 1974, Mulligan worked on a musical version of the play Happy Birthday. In 1978, he wrote music for the Broadway play Play with Fire.
In 1995, a video called The Gerry Mulligan Workshop was released. It was a master class on jazz and its famous players.
Awards
- 1981 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band for Walk on the Water
- 1982 The Birth of the Cool album was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame
- 1982 Connecticut Arts Award
- 1984 Viotti Prize (from Vercelli, Italy)
- 1984 Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame
- 1988 Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University
- 1989 Received keys to the city of Trieste, Italy
- 1990 Philadelphia Music Foundation Hall of Fame
- 1991 American Jazz Hall of Fame
- 1992 Lionel Hampton School of Music Hall of Fame
- 1994 Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame
- Won the Down Beat magazine reader's poll for outstanding baritone saxophonist for 42 years in a row (1953–1995)
Discography
As Leader/Co-Leader
- 1950: The Gerry Mulligan Quartet/Gerry Mulligan with the Chubby Jackson Big Band
- 1951: Mulligan Plays Mulligan
- 1952: Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 1
- 1953: Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet
- 1953: Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 2
- 1953: Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet and Quartet
- 1954: Paris Concert
- 1954: California Concerts
- 1955: Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet
- 1955-56: Profil (also known as A Profile of Gerry Mulligan)
- 1956: Mainstream of Jazz
- 1956: Recorded in Boston at Storyville with Bob Brookmeyer
- 1957: The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport
- 1946–57: The Arranger (reissued as Mullenium)
- 1957: Jazz Giants '58 with Stan Getz and Harry Edison
- 1957: Mulligan Meets Monk with Thelonious Monk
- 1957: Blues in Time with Paul Desmond
- 1957: Gerry Mulligan Meets Stan Getz with Stan Getz
- 1957: Jazz Concerto Grosso with Bob Brookmeyer
- 1957: The Gerry Mulligan Songbook
- 1957: Reunion with Chet Baker with Chet Baker
- 1958: I Want to Live! (soundtrack)
- 1957–58: Annie Ross Sings a Song with Mulligan! with Annie Ross
- 1958–59: What Is There to Say?
- 1959: Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges with Johnny Hodges
- 1959: Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster with Ben Webster
- 1960: The Concert Jazz Band
- 1960: Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour
- 1960: Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard
- 1961: Holliday with Mulligan with Judy Holliday
- 1961: Gerry Mulligan Presents a Concert in Jazz
- 1962: The Gerry Mulligan Quartet
- 1962: Jeru
- 1962: Two of a Mind with Paul Desmond
- 1962: Spring Is Sprung
- 1962: Gerry Mulligan '63
- 1962: Night Lights
- 1963–64: Butterfly with Hiccups
- 1965: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!
- 1965: Feelin' Good
- 1966: Something Borrowed - Something Blue
- 1968?: Blues Roots with the Dave Brubeck Trio
- 1970: Live at the Berlin Philharmonie with the Dave Brubeck Trio
- 1971: Age of Steam
- 1974: Summit with Astor Piazzolla
- 1974: Carnegie Hall Concert with Chet Baker
- 1975: Gerry Mulligan Meets Enrico Intra with Enrico Intra
- 1980: Walk on the Water with his orchestra
- 1983?: Little Big Horn
- 1986: Soft Lights and Sweet Music with Scott Hamilton
- 1987: Symphonic Dreams `Entente' with Erich Kunzel, Houston Symphony
- 1990?: Lonesome Boulevard
- 1992: Re–Birth of the Cool
- 1993: Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan: Live at MCG with Billy Taylor
- 1993?: Paraiso Jazz Brazil with Jane Duboc
- 1994: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Dream a Little Dream
- 1995: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Dragonfly
- 1995: Midas Touch: Live in Berlin
As Sideman
With Dave Brubeck
- 1968: Compadres
- 1968?: Blues Roots
- 1970: Live at the Berlin Philharmonie
- 1971: The Last Set at Newport
- 1971: Brubeck/ Mulligan/ Cincinnati
- 1972: We're All Together Again for the First Time
With Charles Mingus
- 1972: Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert
- 1977?: Lionel Hampton Presents Charles Mingus
With Billy Taylor
- 1957: My Fair Lady Loves Jazz
- 1993?: Dr. T featuring Gerry Mulligan
With Others
- Manny Albam, The Jazz Greats of Our Time Vol. 1 (1957)
- Miles Davis, Birth of the Cool (recorded 1949-50, released 1957)
- Stan Getz, Stan Getz Plays Blues (1966)
- Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton presents Gerry Mulligan (1977)
- John Hill, Six Moons Of Jupiter (recorded 1970, released 2009)
- Billie Holiday et al., At Monterey / 1958 (recorded 1958, released 1986)
- Quincy Jones, The Hot Rock (recorded 1971, released 1972)
- Michel Legrand, Le Jazz Grand (1979)
- Barry Manilow, 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe (1984)
- Jay McShann, The Big Apple Bash (recorded 1978, released 1979)
- Sergio Mendes and Pelé, Pelé (1977)
- André Previn and Carmen McRae, The Subterraneans (soundtrack) (recorded 1959-60, released 1960)
- Mel Tormé and George Shearing, The Classic Concert Live (recorded 1982, released 2005)
As Composer
- 1955: Elliot Lawrence - Elliot Lawrence Band Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements
- 1955: Gene Krupa - Gene Krupa
- 1956: Kenny Clarke's Sextet - Plays André Hodeir
- 1956: Chet Baker Chet Baker & Crew
- 1958: Carl Stevens - "Skin" And Bones
- 1959: Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements
- 1960: Chet Baker - Sextet & Quartet
- 1961: Brew Moore - '"Live In Europe 1961
- 1961: Charlie Parker - "Bird" Is Free
- 1976: Paul Desmond - Live
- 1982: Dave Grusin - Out Of The Shadows
- 2004: Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette - The Out-Of-Towners
- 2008: The Dutch Jazz Orchestra - Moon Dreams - Rediscovered Music Of Gil Evans & Gerry Mulligan
- 2010: Trudy Kerr and Ingrid James - Reunion
Images for kids
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Mulligan playing piano in the Netherlands in 1960.
See also
In Spanish: Gerry Mulligan para niños
