Gerry Mulligan

Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrument 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 piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz ensembles. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions, including "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers", have become standards.

Biography Early life and career Gerry Mulligan was born in Queens Village, Queens, New York, the son of George and Louise Mulligan. His father was a Wilmington, Delaware, native of Irish descent; his mother a Philadelphia native of half-Irish and half-German descent. Gerry was the youngest of four sons with George, Phil and Don preceding him.

George Mulligan's career as an engineer necessitated frequent moves through numerous cities. When Gerry was less than a year old, the family moved to Marion, Ohio, where his father accepted a job with the Marion Power Shovel Company.

With the demands of a large home and four young boys to raise, Mulligan's mother hired an African American nanny named Lily Rose, who became especially fond of the youngest Mulligan. As he became older, Mulligan began spending time at Rose's house and was especially amused by Rose's player piano, which Mulligan later recalled as having rolls by numerous players, including Fats Waller. Black musicians sometimes came through town, and because many motels would not take them, they often had to stay at homes within the black community. The young Mulligan occasionally met such musicians staying at Rose's home.

The family's moves continued with stops in South Jersey (where Mulligan lived with his maternal grandmother), Chicago, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Mulligan lived for three years and attended Catholic school. When the school moved into a new building and established music courses, Mulligan decided to play clarinet in the school's nascent orchestra. Mulligan made an attempt at arranging with the Richard Rodgers song "Lover", but the arrangement was seized prior to its first reading by an overzealous nun who was taken aback by the title on the arrangement.

When Gerry Mulligan was 14, his family moved to Detroit and then to Reading, Pennsylvania. While in Reading, Mulligan began studying clarinet with dance-band musician Sammy Correnti, who also encouraged Mulligan's interest in arranging. Mulligan also began playing saxophone professionally in dance bands in Philadelphia, an hour and a half or so away.

The Mulligan family next moved to Philadelphia, where Gerry attended the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys and organized a school big band, for which he also wrote arrangements. When Mulligan was sixteen, he approached Johnny Warrington at local radio station WCAU about writing arrangements for the station's house band. Warrington was impressed and began buying Mulligan's arrangements.

Mulligan dropped out of high school during his senior year to pursue work with a touring band. He contacted bandleader Tommy Tucker when Tucker was visiting Philadelphia's Earle Theatre. While Tucker did not need an additional reedman, he was looking for an arranger and Mulligan was hired at $100 a week to do two or three arrangements a week (including all copying). At the conclusion of Mulligan's three-month contract, Tucker told Mulligan that he should move on to another band which was a little less "tame". Mulligan went back to Philadelphia and began writing for Elliot Lawrence, a pianist and composer who had taken over for Warrington as the band leader at WCAU.

Mulligan moved to New York City in January 1946 and joined the arranging staff on Gene Krupa's bebop-tinged band. Arrangements of Mulligan's work with Krupa include "Birdhouse", "Disc Jockey Jump" and an arrangement of "How High the Moon", quoting Charlie Parker's "Ornithology" as a countermelody.

Mulligan next began arranging for the Claude Thornhill Orchestra, occasionally sitting in as a member of the reed section.

Baker's melodic style fit well with Mulligan, leading them to create improvised contrapuntal textures free from the rigid confines of a piano-enforced chordal structure. While novel at the time in sound and style, this ethos of contrapuntal group improvisation hearkened back to the formative days of jazz. Despite their very different backgrounds (Mulligan was a classically trained New Yorker, while Oklahoman Baker was mostly self-taught and a much more instinctive player) they had an almost psychic rapport and ability to improvise sophisticated melodic and harmonic patterns together. Mulligan later remarked: "I had never experienced anything like that before and not really since." Their dates at the Haig became sell-outs and the recordings they made in late 1952 became major sellers, that led to significant acclaim for Mulligan and Baker. The recordings included singles such as "Motel" (1953) labelled as 'The Gerry Mulligan Quartet Featuring Chet Baker'.

The fortuitous collaboration came to an abrupt end with Mulligan's arrest on narcotics charges in mid-1953, leading to six months at Sheriff's Honor Farm. Both Mulligan and Baker had, like many of their peers, become heroin addicts. However, while Mulligan was in prison, Baker transformed his lyrical trumpet style, gentle tenor voice and matinee-idol looks into independent stardom. Thus, when upon his release Mulligan attempted to rehire Baker, the trumpeter declined the offer for financial reasons.

Middle career

Mulligan continued the quartet format with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer replacing Baker, 'The Gerry Mulligan Collection' is open to registered public researchers in the library's Performing Arts Research Center. The library placed Mulligan's saxophone on permanent exhibit in early 2009.

Theatre and film Mulligan's first film appearance was probably with Krupa's orchestra playing alto saxophone in the RKO short film Follow That Music (1946). Mulligan had small roles in the films I Want to Live! (1958), as a jazz combo member; Jazz on a Summer's Day (1960), featuring his performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival; The Rat Race (1960), in which he appears as a tenor saxophonist instead of his usual instrument; The Subterraneans (1960) and Bells Are Ringing (also 1960) with his then partner, Judy Holliday. Mulligan also performed numerous times on television programmes during his career.

As a film composer, Mulligan wrote music for A Thousand Clowns (1965, the title theme), the film version of the Broadway comedy Luv (1967), the French films La Menace (1977) and Les Petites galères (1977, with Ástor Piazzolla) and I'm Not Rappaport (1996, the title theme).

In 1974, Mulligan collaborated on a musical version of Anita Loos' play Happy Birthday. Although the creative team had great hopes for the work, it never made it past a workshop production at the University of Alabama. In 1978, Mulligan wrote incidental music for Dale Wasserman's Broadway play Play with Fire.

In 1995, the Hal Leonard Corporation released the video tape The Gerry Mulligan Workshop – A Master Class on Jazz and Its Legendary Players.

Personal life Mulligan married Jeffie Lee Boyd in 1953, but the marriage was annulled. Later that same year he married Arlyne Brown, the daughter of songwriter Lew Brown. Their son, Reed Brown Mulligan, was born in 1957. The couple divorced in 1959.

Mulligan spent the next six years with actress and singer Judy Holliday, with whom he recorded an album, Holliday With Mulligan. Holliday died of cancer in 1965. In 1974, Mulligan met Countess Franca Rota Borghini Baldovinetti through their mutual friend Astor Piazzolla, although they did not marry until 1982. They remained together until his death.

Awards 1981 Grammy Award for Walk on the Water (Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band) 1981 Grammy nominations for the albums The Age of Steam, For an Unfinished Woman and Soft Lights and Sweet Music 1982 Birth of the Cool album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame 1982 Connecticut Arts Award 1984 Viotti Prize (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 1992 Guest composer at the Mertens Contemporary American Composer's Festival, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut 1994 Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame 1995 Artists Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors for the Performing Arts 1953–1995, winner for 42 consecutive years, of the Down Beat magazine reader's poll for: Outstanding baritone saxophonist

Discography

As leader/co-leader 1950: The Gerry Mulligan Quartet/Gerry Mulligan with the Chubby Jackson Big Band – The big band sides are from 1950, the band led by bassist Jackson included Howard McGhee, Zoot Sims, and J. J. Johnson. The quartet sides, with Chet Baker were recorded at two sessions in 1952. 1951: Mulligan Plays Mulligan (Prestige, 1951)[10 inch] – reissued as Historically Speaking (1957)[LP] 1952: Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 1 (Pacific Jazz, 1952)[10 inch] 1953: Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Pacific Jazz, 1953) [10 inch] – reissued as a compilation album with the same title and previously unreleased tracks and alternate takes (1957)[LP] 1953: Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 2 (Pacific Jazz, 1953)[10 inch] 1953: Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet and Quartet (GNP, 1954)[10 inch] 1954: Paris Concert (Vogue/Pacific Jazz, 1955) – live 1954: California Concerts (Pacific Jazz, 1955) – live 1954: Gerry Mulligan Quartet – Paris Concert (Vogue – 655610 1954) – live 1955: Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet (EmArcy, 1955) 1955-1956: Profil (Mercury, 1958) – a.k.a. A Profile of Gerry Mulligan 1956: Mainstream of Jazz (EmArcy, 1956)

1956: Recorded in Boston at Storyville with Bob Brookmeyer (Pacific Jazz, 1957) – live 1957: The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport (Verve, 1957) – live 1946–1957: The Arranger (Columbia, 1977) – reissued as Mullenium (1998) with bonus tracks 1957: Jazz Giants '58 with Stan Getz and Harry Edison (Verve, 1958) – also issued as Gerry's Time (VSP, 1966) 1957: Mulligan Meets Monk with Thelonious Monk (Riverside, 1957) 1957: Blues in Time with Paul Desmond (Verve, 1957) – also released as Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Quartet 1957: Gerry Mulligan Meets Stan Getz with Stan Getz (Verve, 1957) – also released as Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi–Fi 1957: Jazz Concerto Grosso with Bob Brookmeyer (ABC–Paramount, 1958) – play Phil Sunkel 1957: The Gerry Mulligan Songbook (World Pacific, 1958) 1957: Reunion with Chet Baker with Chet Baker (World Pacific, 1958) 1958: I Want to Live! with Johnny Mandel, et al. (United Artists, 1958) – soundtrack 1957–1958: Annie Ross Sings a Song with Mulligan! with Annie Ross (World Pacific, 1959) 1958–1959: What Is There to Say? (Columbia, 1959) 1959: Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges with Johnny Hodges (Verve, 1960) 1959: Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster with Ben Webster (Verve, 1960) 1960: The Concert Jazz Band (Verve, 1960) 1960: Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour (Verve, 1962) – live 1960: Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard (Verve, 1961) – live 1961: Holliday with Mulligan with Judy Holliday (DRG, 1980) 1961: Gerry Mulligan Presents a Concert in Jazz (Verve, 1961) 1962: The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Verve, 1962) 1962: Jeru (Columbia, 1962) 1962: Two of a Mind with Paul Desmond (RCA Victor, 1962) 1962: Spring Is Sprung (Philips, 1963) 1962: Gerry Mulligan '63 (Verve, 1963) 1962: Night Lights (Philips, 1963) 1963–1964: Butterfly with Hiccups (Limelight, 1964) 1965: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em! (Limelight, 1965) 1965: Feelin' Good (Limelight, 1965) 1966: Something Borrowed - Something Blue (Limelight, 1966) 1968?: Blues Roots with the Dave Brubeck Trio (Columbia, 1968) 1970: Live at the Berlin Philharmonie with the Dave Brubeck Trio (Columbia, 1972)[2LP] – live 1971: Age of Steam (A&M, 1972) 1974: Summit with Astor Piazzolla (Erre T.V./Festival, 1974) 1974: Carnegie Hall Concert with Chet Baker (CTI, 1975) – live 1975: Gerry Mulligan Meets Enrico Intra with Enrico Intra (Produttori Associati, 1976) 1980: Walk on the Water with his orchestra (DRG, 1980) 1983?: Little Big Horn (GRP, 1983) 1986: Soft Lights and Sweet Music with Scott Hamilton (Concord, 1986) 1987: Symphonic Dreams `Entente with Erich Kunzel, Houston Symphony (PAR, 1987) – live 1990?: Lonesome Boulevard (A&M, 1990) 1992: Re–Birth of the Cool (GRP, 1992) 1993: Billy Taylor & Gerry Mulligan: Live at MCG with Billy Taylor (MCG Jazz, 2007) – live 1993?: Paraiso Jazz Brazil with Jane Duboc (Telarc Jazz, 1993) 1994: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Dream a Little Dream (Telarc Jazz, 1994) 1995: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Dragonfly (Telarc Jazz, 1995) 1995: Midas Touch: Live in Berlin (Concord, 2003) – live

As sideman With Dave Brubeck 1968: Compadres (Columbia, 1968) – live 1968?: Blues Roots (Columbia, 1968) 1970: Live at the Berlin Philharmonie (Columbia, 1972) – live 1971: The Last Set at Newport (Atlantic, 1972) – live 1971: Brubeck / Mulligan / Cincinnati (MCA, 1971) – live 1972: We're All Together Again for the First Time (Atlantic, 1973) – liveWith Charles Mingus 1972: Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert (Columbia, 1973) – live 1977: Lionel Hampton Presents Charles Mingus (Who's Who in Jazz, 1977)With Billy Taylor 1957: My Fair Lady Loves Jazz (ABC–Paramount, 1964) – 1 track 1992: Dr. T (GRP, 1993)With Others''' Manny Albam, The Jazz Greats of Our Time Vol. 1 (MCA, 1957) Miles Davis, Birth of the Cool (Capitol, 1957) Stan Getz, Stan Getz Plays Blues (VSP (Verve), 1966) Lionel Hampton, Lionel Hampton presents Gerry Mulligan (Who's Who in Jazz, 1977) John Hill, Six Moons Of Jupiter (Finders Keepers, 2009) Billie Holiday et al., At Monterey / 1958 (BlackHawk, 1986) Quincy Jones, The Hot Rock (Prophesy, 1972) Michel Legrand, Le Jazz Grand (Gryphon, 1979) Barry Manilow, 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe (Arista, 1984) Jay McShann, The Big Apple Bash (Atlantic, 1979) Sergio Mendes and Pelé, Pelé (Atlantic, 1977) André Previn and Carmen McRae, The Subterraneans (soundtrack) (MGM, 1960) Mel Tormé and George Shearing, The Classic Concert Live (Concord, 2005) – live

As composer 1955: Elliot Lawrence - Elliot Lawrence Band Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements (Verve) - track 1, "The Rocker"; track 3, "Happy Hooligan"; track 5, "Bweebida Bwobbida"; track 6, "Mullinium"; track 8, "Apple Core"; track 9, "Elegy for Two Clarinets"; track 10, "The Swinging Door"; track 12, "Mr. President" 1955: Gene Krupa - Gene Krupa (Columbia) - track 5, "Disc Jockey Jump" (1947) (co-written with Gene Krupa) 1956: Kenny Clarke's Sextet - Plays André Hodeir (Philips) track 6, "Jeru" 1956: Chet Baker Chet Baker & Crew - track 4, "Revelation" 1958: Carl Stevens - "Skin" And Bones (Mercury) - track 1, "Walkin' Shoes" 1959: Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements (Verve) - track 1, "Bird House"; track 3, "Mulligan Stew"; track 6, "The Way of all Flesh"; track 8, "Birds of a Feather" 1960: Chet Baker - Sextet & Quartet (Music) (In Milan, Jazzland) - track 4, "Line for Lyons" 1961: Brew Moore - Live In Europe 1961 (Sonorama) released in 2015 - track 2, "Apple Core" 1961: Charlie Parker - "Bird" Is Free (Musidisc) - track 1, "Rocker" 1976: Paul Desmond - Live (2 LP with Ed Bickert) (Horizon) "Line For Lyons" (Verve reissue CD bonus track) 1982: Dave Grusin - Out Of The Shadows (GRP) - track 4, "Five Brothers" 2004: Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette - The Out-Of-Towners (ECM) - track 5, "Five Brothers" 2008: The Dutch Jazz Orchestra - Moon Dreams - Rediscovered Music Of Gil Evans & Gerry Mulligan (Challenge) - track 5, "Joost At The Roost"; track 7, "The Major And The Minor"; track 10, "Brew's Tune" 2010: Trudy Kerr and Ingrid James - Reunion'' (Jazzizit) - track 4, "Soft Shoe"