(Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996)

1. April 6, 1927

   Gerald Joseph Mulligan born in Queens, New York on April 6, 1927.

2. 1946

   Mulligan's arrangements of "How High the Moon" and "Disc Jockey Jump" are recorded with Gene Krupa for Mulligan's first appearance on record.

3. 1947

   Gerry arranges for and performs with orchestras of Woody Herman and Claude Thornhill.

4. 1949/1950

   Gerry creates arrangments and performs on Birth of the Cool sessions with bandleader Miles Davis, which include the original Mulligan compositions "Jeru," "Venus de Milo," and "Rocker.

5. 1951

   The Tentet is formed. Mulligan Plays Mulligan, his first recording as a leader, is released. It consists of seven Mulligan original compositions.

6. 1952

   The first recording of the pianoless Gerry Mulligan Quartet is released. The 78 rpm release "Lullaby of the Leaves", backed with "Bernie's Tune" features Mulligan, Chet Baker on trumpet, Bob Whitlock on bass, and Chico Hamilton on drums. Gerry writes and arranges "Young Blood" for Stan Kenton's band.

7. 1957

   Mulligan Meets Monk is recorded with Thelonious Monk.

8. 1960

   The Concert Jazz Band is formed. The band appeared at the Village Vanguard in New York and featured the pianoless rhythm section, five reeds (including Gerry), and six brass.

9. 1965

   Playing on baritone saxophone and clarinet, Gerry records Feelin' Good with a Quintet and ten-piece string section.

10. 1972

    The Age of Steam is released.

11. 1974

    Countess Franca Rota Borghini Baldovinetti (Gerry's future wife) meets Gerry at the recording of the Summit album with Astor Piazzolla in Milan, Italy.

12. 1977

    Gerry writes the score for the French film, La Menace, starring Yves Montand.

13. 1978

    Gerry re-forms the Concert Jazz Band for the Newport Jazz Festival.

    Gerry performs at President Jimmy Carter's festival, Jazz at the White House.

14. 1981

    Gerry wins a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band" for his DRG album Walk on the Water.

15. 1982

    Zubin Mehta invites Gerry Mulligan to play solo soprano saxophone in Ravel's "Bolero" with the New York Philharmonic.

16. 1983

    Little Big Horn is released.

17. 1984

    Canadian composer, Harry Freedman, is commissioned by Gerry to write "The Sax Chronicles," in which Mulligan's melodies are arranged in the styles of Bach, Brahms, and Mozart.

    Gerry completes first composition for symphony orchestra and solo saxophone, "Entente for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra."

18. 1987

    Symphonic Dreams, the first recording of Mulligan with a symphony orchestra, is released.

19. 1988

    Gerry is named a Duke Ellington Fellow by Yale University.

20. 1989

    Gerry records Lonesome Boulevard

21. 1991

    Gerry assembles the Gerry Mulligan Tentet for Re-Birth of the Cool.

22. 1992

    Gerry performs on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in ceremonies celebrating the inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton.

23. 1994

    Gerry Mulligan elected into the Down Beat Hall of Fame

24. 1995

    Dragonfly released.

    Gerry performs at a benefit concert with the Tibetan Monks of the Sera Je Monastery in India and Ornella Vanoni at the Teatro Nazionale in Milan, Italy. Mulligan improvises with thirteen monks playing their traditional instruments. Gerry wins the Down Beat International Critics and Readers Poll: Baritone Saxophonist of the Year, 1995.

25. 1996

    January 20, 1996 - Gerry dies at his home in Darien, Connecticut.

    October 19, 1996 - Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra perform a concert, "Jeru: The Music of Gerry Mulligan", at Lincoln Center in New York.

26. 1997

    The Gerry Mulligan All-Star Tribute Band, with soloists Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz, and Randy Brecker, gave a concert series at the Blue Note in New York.

27. 1999

    Library of Congress opens an exhibition of the Gerry Mulligan Collection, housed in a special room at the entrance to the Performing Arts Reading Room in the Music Division, in the James Madison Memorial Building.

28. 2004

    The Gerry Mulligan Collection, featuring his oral autobiography, is launched as part of the the Library's "Performing Arts Encyclopedia " inititiative.