Gerry Mulligan(1927 — 1996)
Gerry Mulligan
États-Unis
7 min read
Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996) was an American baritone saxophonist, composer, and arranger, a major figure of cool jazz. He made his mark with his pianoless quartet formed with trumpeter Chet Baker and with his participation in the founding sessions of “cool” jazz.
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born on April 6, 1927, in New York, died on January 20, 1996, in Darien (Connecticut)
- Took part in 1949-1950 in Miles Davis's “Birth of the Cool” sessions as an arranger and instrumentalist
- Formed a pianoless quartet in 1952 with trumpeter Chet Baker, a landmark success of cool jazz
- Popularized the baritone saxophone as a leading solo instrument in jazz
- Composed standards such as “Walkin' Shoes” and “Bark for Barksdale”
Works & Achievements
Mulligan plays baritone and writes the arrangements for “Jeru,” “Venus de Milo,” and “Rocker,” cornerstones of cool jazz.
An arrangement written for drummer Gene Krupa's orchestra, one of his first successes as a young arranger.
The piano-less quartet popularizes tunes such as “Line for Lyons,” “Walkin' Shoes,” and a celebrated version of “My Funny Valentine.”
A recorded encounter with pianist Thelonious Monk, illustrating the dialogue between cool jazz and bebop.
A duo album with tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, a leading figure of swing, bringing together two generations of jazz.
A big band founded by Mulligan, combining carefully written arrangements with improvised solos.
Anecdotes
In 1952, at a small Los Angeles club called the Haig, Gerry Mulligan put together a quartet with no pianist — a bold move for the time, since the piano usually supplied the chords. Instead, his baritone saxophone and Chet Baker's trumpet trade phrases in counterpoint, leaving the listener's ear to fill in the harmony. This light, airy approach became one of the signature sounds of cool jazz.
When he took part in the late 1940s in the nonet gathered around Miles Davis, Mulligan was nicknamed “Jeru” by his bandmates. He composed and arranged a piece for the group bearing that very title, “Jeru,” recorded during the sessions that would make up the album Birth of the Cool.
In 1952, the quartet recorded a version of “My Funny Valentine.” The track was a huge success and introduced the public to the young trumpeter Chet Baker, whose career took off immediately. This gentle, understated rendition remains one of the high points of cool jazz.
At the height of his fame, Mulligan was arrested in 1953 for drug use and spent several months in prison. This episode brought an abrupt end to the original quartet with Chet Baker, just as the group was at its peak.
Mulligan chose the baritone saxophone — the largest and lowest member of the saxophone family — as his main instrument, a rare choice for a soloist. In his hands, this instrument, known for being heavy and unwieldy, became nimble and singing, which helped establish it as a true solo voice in jazz.
Primary Sources
The album brings together 1949–1950 sessions by Miles Davis's nonet. Gerry Mulligan plays baritone saxophone on it and wrote the compositions and arrangements for “Jeru,” “Venus de Milo,” and “Rocker.”
The 1952 recordings by the pianoless quartet, including “Bernie's Tune,” “Line for Lyons,” and “My Funny Valentine,” document the contrapuntal dialogue between Mulligan's baritone and Chet Baker's trumpet.
This documentary, shot at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958, shows Gerry Mulligan on stage: it is a filmed record of his playing and of the atmosphere of the jazz scene of the era.
Miles Davis recalls the nonet's rehearsals at arranger Gil Evans's home and counts Gerry Mulligan among the musicians who shaped the “cool” sound of the late 1940s.
Key Places
New York borough where Gerry Mulligan was born on April 6, 1927.
City where the teenage Mulligan made his debut as an arranger, writing for radio orchestras and local bands.
Birthplace of bebop and of the Miles Davis nonet; this is where Mulligan recorded the Birth of the Cool sessions.
It was in this Los Angeles club that the famous pianoless quartet with Chet Baker was born in 1952, the heart of West Coast jazz.
Mulligan performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, one edition of which was filmed in Jazz on a Summer's Day (1958).
Connecticut town where Gerry Mulligan died on January 20, 1996.