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Gerry Mulligan, 1927-1996
Zoot Sims, 1925-1985
Described as "one of the great improvisers of postwar jazz," baritone saxophonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader Gerry Mulligan (left) played a key role in the cool jazz movement.
When his work as an arranger for the orchestras of Gene Krupa and George Thornhill brought Mulligan to New York City in 1946, he gravitated to a circle of experimental musicians that included Miles Davis. He joined them in recording Birth of the Cool in 1949 and 1950, contributing three compositions and two arrangements to that landmark album. Mulligan proved instrumental in establishing California as the epicenter of West Coast cool jazz in 1952 when, with trumpeter Chet Baker, he created his groundbreaking pianoless quartet. Returning to New York in 1954, Mulligan formed a new combo, whose changing roster of musicians at times included tenor saxophonist and veteran sideman Zoot Sims (right). When Mulligan later established his Concert Jazz Band (1960), Sims was among its soloists. |