Gerry Mulligan Quartet
Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and arranger Gerry Mulligan was born on April 6, 1927 in Queens, New York. His father’s engineer job led to the band moving quite frequently. While attending high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he founded a school big band and wrote the musical arrangements. At the age of 16, he was approached by a local radio station to write arrangements for their house band. This led to him dropping out of school and pursuing a career as a musician. After a few high-profile gigs, he returned to New York and, in 1948, he was recruited into Miles Davis’ nine-piece band. While the band performed and recorded infrequently, the tracks were compiled on the Miles Davis album Birth of the Cool. In 1950, he released the album Mulligan Plays Mulligan, his first album as a leader. Relocating to Los Angeles, California in 1952, Gerry Mulligan began writing arrangements for Stan Kenton. During his spare time, he began performing at a small jazz club called The Haig. A young trumpeter by the name of Chet Baker began sitting in with Gerry Mulligan, inspiring him to form a piano-less quartet. Recruiting bassist Bob Whitlock and drummer Chico Hamilton, the Gerry Mulligan quartet became the talk of the town. They released their self-titled debut 10” in 1952. They then recorded a collaboration album with saxophonist Lee Konitz on the album Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, released in 1953. Another 10” self-titled release of quartet recordings was issued in 1953, making it a pretty busy first year for the band. However, Mulligan was arrested on drug charges later in the year and spent six months in jail, bringing the early quartet to an end. By the time Gerry Mulligan was released from jail and ready to play with his band again, Chet Baker had already built an audience of his own and was unable to rejoin the quartet. With a fluid line-up, the Gerry Mulligan Quartet continued to record and tour throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s. Gerry Mulligan revived the name of the quartet on occasion but had more success on his own and his collaborations with other artists including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and many more. Gerry Mulligan died on January 10, 1996 after suffering complications following routine surgery.
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
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Auditory Arrangement
Jazz - Released by genius vs. genius musica on 9 May 2014
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Zurich 1962
Pop - Released by Vintage Vinyl Records on 10 Mar 2017
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Live Zurich, 1962 (Live)
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 17 Feb 2015
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Lucky Day
Annie Ross, Gerry Mulligan Quartet
Vocal Jazz - Released by Lumi OMP on 12 Aug 2012
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Ultimate Jazz Collections-Gerry Mulligan Quartet-Vol. 53
Jazz - Released by RP-DSP on 25 Oct 2011
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In dear old London
Jazz - Released by In dear old London on 8 Oct 2022
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Aren't You Glad You're You
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 20 Jun 2014
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The Funny Barber Shop
Jazz - Released by Funny Barber on 18 Mar 2022
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Spring Is Sprung
Pop - Released by Foggy Milan Records on 16 Dec 2022
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Darn That Dream
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 4 Aug 2014
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That Old Feeling
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Sharp Edge Records on 4 Jun 2015
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I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Lee Konitz
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 4 Jul 2014
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Carson City Stage
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 20 Jun 2014
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Freeway
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 20 Jun 2014
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Bark for Barksdale
French Music - Released by Rooster Records on 20 Jun 2014
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