Gerry Mulligan essays

Gerry Mulligan essays Gerry Mulligan was known for his outstanding writing skills along with his talent as a baritone saxophonist. Mulligans skills were developed at an early age, when he was seventeen he wrote for Jonny Warringtons radio band. Even before settling on the baritone sax, he played the piano and other various reed instruments. He also wrote arrangements for influential musicians such as Claude Thornhill and Stan Kenton (Down Beat 1). Mulligan became known for his work as an arranger, writer, and soloist on the Miles Davis Album The Birth of Cool. Some of Mulligans Compositions included on this album are Godchild and Jeru (Klinkowitz 233). His influential involvement with this album helped to launch his career. After his success he then moved to Los Angeles where Mulligan, along with trumpeter Chet Baker, formed the first piano-less quartet (Down Beat1) This was unheard of at the time, and was definitely a shock to the jazz community (Williams 29). The event that attributed to this unusual quartet happened at a gig one night when the piano player, Jimmy Rawles didnt show up. Due to the fact that the group was forced to play without him, Mulligan came to the realization that he could carry the band without the use of a piano. That night they cut three numbers and convinced a club owner that if he stored the piano elsewhere, it would create more space for people to sit. This in turn would increase the numbers of the audience, and therefore increase the profit. The owner, liking the idea, hired the quartet. This led to the start of the popularity of the piano-less After some time Chet Baker was replaced with trombonist Bob Brookmeyer (Excite 1). Brookmeyer had a happier more lively feeling that was in great contrast to the former quartet in which Baker as the trombonist. Their new sound worked for the group and the popularity grew. During the 1950s, ...