Gerry Mulligan | Artist

Gerald Joseph Mulligan aka Jeru was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger born 1927 in Queens Village, New York. Though primarily known as a baritone sax player, with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz, Mulligan was also a significant arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton and others. His quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz groups. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. As a boy, Mulligan's mother hired an African American nanny named Lily Rose, who became fond of Gerry, the youngest of four brothers. Mulligan spent time at Rose's house and became interested in her player piano which had rolls of jazz and blues music including Fats Waller. Black musicians often stayed at Rose's house because many motels would not take them, giving the young Gerry the opportunity to meet them. In high school Gerry played in dance bands and began to play professionally and write arrangements when he was Sixteen. Mulligan moved to New York City in 1946 and joined the arranging staff on Gene Krupa's band. His work with Krupa includes "Birdhouse", "Disc Jockey Jump" and "How High the Moon", quoting Charlie Parker's "ornithology" as a counter-melody. Mulligan next began arranging and playing for the Claude Thornhill Orchestra where he worked alongside Gill Evans. Mulligan eventually began living with Evans at an apartment on West 55th Street which became a regular hangout for a number of jazz musicians working on creating a new jazz idiom, the so-called 'Birth of the Cool'. Mulligan went on to have a stellar career as a performer and recording artist, leading his own ensembles and with famous collaborators such as Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk and Astor Piazzola. He released over Seventy studio albums, with standouts including Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1953), Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond Quartet (1957), The Gerry Mulligan Songbook (1958), What is There to Say? (1959), Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster (1960), Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges (1961), Two of a Mind w/ Paul Desmond (1962), Night Lights (1963) and The Age of Steam (1972). Mulligan also composed several film soundtracks and, as an actor, appeared in the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's novella "The Subterraneans" playing the role of a tenor saxophonist.

Artist Website: wikipedia/Gerry_Mulligan

Featured Albums: Gerry Mulligan

Related Artists: Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Gil Evans, Miles Davis

Video Clips: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, With Chet Baker, Live at Eric