The Gerry Mulligan 1950s Quartets

The Gerry Mulligan Quartet, established in Los Angeles in 1952, garnered widespread acclaim as the first small jazz ensemble to forgo a chordal instrument like a piano or guitar. Using original scores and detailed transcriptions of Mulligan's work, The Gerry Mulligan 1950s Quartets provides an intimate look at Mulligan's musical development, from the initial quartet with Chet Baker to its successors featuring Bob Brookmeyer, Jon Eardley, and Art Farmer.

The book offers an unparalleled account of his musical life, spanning his teenage years to adulthood, analysing how his compositions and arrangements evolved through collaborations with Elliot Lawrence, Gene Krupa, and Claude Thornhill, culminating in Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool nonet. Featuring original interviews with many of Mulligan's associates, author Alyn Shipton presents a fresh perspective on Mulligan's harmonic creativity, meticulously tracing the ups and downs of Mulligan's heroin addiction, imprisonment, sobriety, and eventual musical triumph.