Gerry Mulligan at the piano with his Concert Jazz Band, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, November 1960

Photo by Hugo van Gelderen / Anefo (CC0)

Gerry Mulligan

Baritone Saxophone · born 6 April 1927 – died 20 January 1996

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Mulligan was a man of paradoxes. He wrote many of the most precise and considered scores in modern jazz, yet he loved the freedom and spontaneity of jam sessions. He was one of the prime architects of cool, yet his own playing could be as fiercely hot as that of any hard bopper. He ran one of the most famous small groups in jazz, but his heart was surely with the big-band form. Born in New York, he started on piano (which he sometimes returned to on recordings), then tried out virtually the whole saxophone family. Moving to Philadelphia in 1944, he began writing arrangements, and then joined Gene Krupa as staff arranger in Los Angeles. Back in New York, he wrote for Claude Thornhill and was a key contributor to the Miles Davis Birth Of The Cool sessions: it rankled with him in later years that he never got that much credit for his involvement. He made some sides with a tentet in New York, then went back to Los Angeles and formed a new quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker and no pianist. Their residency at a little club called The Haig caused a sensation, with queues around the block, and the subsequent recordings for Dick Bock's Pacific Jazz label showed why: irresistible Mulligan originals such as Walkin' Shoes mixed with standards in clean, sonorous lines, and the results sounded like evergreen classics from the first auditioning. But Mulligan was using heroin, and only a three-month incarceration enabled him to get off the habit. He carried on with various four-man line-ups after Baker's departure, with Bob Brookmeyer, Jon Eardley and Art Farmer among his partners, and 'met' various saxophonists in the Verve recording studios, including Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster and Stan Getz. On the celebrated Sound Of Jazz telecast, he plays in the band that accompanies Billie Holiday and stands tallest of all.

In 1960, he assembled his Concert Jazz Band, which also recorded for Verve: a very different animal to the typical shouting big band, its light feel and sometimes silky sound was a beautiful vehicle for Mulligan scores such as Blueport, but it flew in the face of jazz trends and economies and didn't last long. After this, Mulligan became a star sideman with Dave Brubeck and eventually mustered a new big band, The Age Of Steam (referring to the saxophonist's long-standing love of locomotives). The Concert Jazz Band was also occasionally brought together again, as was a 'Rebirth Of The Cool' band which took a fresh look at Mulligan's old scores (and settled them to his satisfaction). 'Jeru' went from the cool uniform of shades and crew-cut in the 50s to bearded longhair in his old age, but while he never again quite found the popular audience he had enjoyed with the quartet, his later music and recordings still have the mark of greatness on them, and his achievements as arranger and composer now seem among the most formidable in any jazz era. As a saxophonist, he made the baritone seem both light and limber while never shying away from its deep-sea timbre: another paradox.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

◆Outside Links

As leader

  • Gerry Mulligan – California ConcertsGerry Mulligan – California Concerts
  • Gerry Mulligan – Mulligan Plays MulliganGerry Mulligan – Mulligan Plays Mulligan
  • Gerry Mulligan – Presenting the Gerry Mulligan SextetGerry Mulligan – Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet
  • Gerry Mulligan Quartet – Paris ConcertGerry Mulligan Quartet – Paris Concert
  • Gerry Mulligan – Mainstream of JazzGerry Mulligan – Mainstream of Jazz
  • Gerry Mulligan Quartet – At StoryvilleGerry Mulligan Quartet – At Storyville
  • Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond – Mulligan Desmond QuartetGerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond – Mulligan Desmond Quartet
  • Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?Gerry Mulligan – What Is There To Say?
  • Paul Desmond / Gerry Mulligan – Two of a MindPaul Desmond / Gerry Mulligan – Two of a Mind

Plays on

  • Various Artists – ConceptionVarious Artists – Conception
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By ThreeJ.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By Three
  • Miles Davis – Birth of the CoolMiles Davis – Birth of the Cool
  • Thelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets MonkThelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets Monk

Mentioned in text

  • Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz at OberlinDave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz at Oberlin
  • Dave Brubeck – At StoryvilleDave Brubeck – At Storyville
  • Tony Fruscella – Tony FruscellaTony Fruscella – Tony Fruscella
  • Tal Farlow – The Interpretations of Tal FarlowTal Farlow – The Interpretations of Tal Farlow
  • Stan Getz – At The ShrineStan Getz – At The Shrine
  • Chico Hamilton Quintet – Featuring Buddy ColletteChico Hamilton Quintet – Featuring Buddy Collette
  • Milt Jackson – Milt Jackson QuartetMilt Jackson – Milt Jackson Quartet
  • Billy Taylor – EvergreensBilly Taylor – Evergreens
  • Teddy Charles – The Teddy Charles TentetTeddy Charles – The Teddy Charles Tentet
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – FontessaModern Jazz Quartet – Fontessa
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre ClarinetJimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet
  • Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume OneThelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume One
  • Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume TwoThelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume Two
  • Zoot Sims – The Modern Art of JazzZoot Sims – The Modern Art of Jazz
  • Chet Baker Quartet – Jazz at Ann ArborChet Baker Quartet – Jazz at Ann Arbor
  • Stan Getz / Zoot Sims / Al Cohn / Allen Eager / Brew Moore – The BrothersStan Getz / Zoot Sims / Al Cohn / Allen Eager / Brew Moore – The Brothers
  • Zoot Sims – QuartetsZoot Sims – Quartets
  • Jon Eardley – Jon Eardley SevenJon Eardley – Jon Eardley Seven
  • Gil Melle Quartet – Melle Plays Primitive ModernGil Melle Quartet – Melle Plays Primitive Modern
  • Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer – Tonite’s Music TodayZoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer – Tonite’s Music Today
  • Zoot Sims – Plays Alto Tenor and BaritoneZoot Sims – Plays Alto Tenor and Baritone
  • Zoot Sims – ZootZoot Sims – Zoot
  • Lars Gullin – Baritone SaxLars Gullin – Baritone Sax
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz QuartetModern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz Quartet
  • Milt Jackson – Plenty Plenty SoulMilt Jackson – Plenty Plenty Soul
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Serge Chaloff – Blue SergeSerge Chaloff – Blue Serge
  • Miles Davis – Miles AheadMiles Davis – Miles Ahead
  • Curtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis CounceCurtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce
  • Al Cohn – The Al Cohn QuintetAl Cohn – The Al Cohn Quintet
  • Al Cohn Quintet – Al and ZootAl Cohn Quintet – Al and Zoot
  • Zoot Sims – Goes to JazzvilleZoot Sims – Goes to Jazzville
  • Chico Hamilton Quintet – The Sweet Smell of SuccessChico Hamilton Quintet – The Sweet Smell of Success
  • Chet Baker – Chet Baker & CrewChet Baker – Chet Baker & Crew
  • Russ Freeman / Chet Baker – QuartetRuss Freeman / Chet Baker – Quartet
  • Bob Brookmeyer Quintet – Traditionalism RevisitedBob Brookmeyer Quintet – Traditionalism Revisited
  • Chet Baker – Chet Baker Big BandChet Baker – Chet Baker Big Band
  • Bob Brookmeyer – The Dual Role of Bob BrookmeyerBob Brookmeyer – The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer
  • Billy Taylor – Cross SectionBilly Taylor – Cross Section
  • Hank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor ConclaveHank Mobley / Al Cohn / John Coltrane / Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave
  • Mose Allison – Back Country SuiteMose Allison – Back Country Suite
  • Gil Melle Quartet – QuadramaGil Melle Quartet – Quadrama
  • Trigger Alpert – Trigger Happy!Trigger Alpert – Trigger Happy!
  • Zoot Sims – Zoot!Zoot Sims – Zoot!
  • Thelonious Monk – Thelonious HimselfThelonious Monk – Thelonious Himself
  • Thelonious Monk – Monk’s MusicThelonious Monk – Monk’s Music
  • Billy Taylor – The New Billy Taylor TrioBilly Taylor – The New Billy Taylor Trio
  • George Wallington – Knight MusicGeorge Wallington – Knight Music
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Swing and SoulLou Donaldson Quintet – Swing and Soul
  • Red Mitchell – Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell – Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3
  • Gil Evans – Gil Evans & TenGil Evans – Gil Evans & Ten
  • Mose Allison – Young Man MoseMose Allison – Young Man Mose
  • Prestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of TownPrestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of Town
  • Thelonious Monk Quartet – MisteriosoThelonious Monk Quartet – Misterioso
  • Max Roach – Deeds, Not WordsMax Roach – Deeds, Not Words
  • Lee Konitz – Very CoolLee Konitz – Very Cool
  • Stan Getz – Stan Getz in StockholmStan Getz – Stan Getz in Stockholm
  • Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to ComeOrnette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
  • Lou Donaldson – Blues WalkLou Donaldson – Blues Walk
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon
  • Dave Brubeck – Gone With the WindDave Brubeck – Gone With the Wind
  • Lou Donaldson – The Time is RightLou Donaldson – The Time is Right
  • Max Roach – We Insist! Freedom Now SuiteMax Roach – We Insist! Freedom Now Suite
  • Bill Evans Trio – ExplorationsBill Evans Trio – Explorations
  • Curtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ BlueCurtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ Blue
  • Gil Evans Orchestra – Into The HotGil Evans Orchestra – Into The Hot
  • Thelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s DreamThelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s Dream
  • Charles Mingus – The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles Mingus – The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
  • Gary McFarland – Point of DepartureGary McFarland – Point of Departure
  • Gary McFarland – Tijuana JazzGary McFarland – Tijuana Jazz
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants
  • Miles Davis – Bitches BrewMiles Davis – Bitches Brew