Mulligan started on the piano before learning clarinet and the various saxophones. His initial reputation was as an arranger. In 1944 he wrote charts for Johnny Warrington's radio band and soon was making contributions to the books of Tommy Tucker and George Paxton. He moved to New York in 1946 and joined Gene Krupa's Orchestra as a staff arranger; his most notable chart was "Disc Jockey Jump." The rare times he played with Krupa's band was on alto and the same situation existed when he was with Claude Thornhill in 1948.
Gerry Mulligan's first notable recorded work on baritone was with Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool nonet (1948-50) but once again his arrangements ("Godchild," "Darn That Dream" and three of his originals "Jeru," "Rocker" and "Venus de Milo") were more significant than his short solos. Mulligan spent much of 1949 writing for Elliot Lawrence's orchestra and playing anonymously in the saxophone section. It was not until 1951 that he began to get a bit of attention for his work on baritone. Mulligan recorded with his own nonet for Prestige, displaying an already recognizable sound. After he traveled to Los Angeles, he wrote some arrangements for Stan Kenton (including "Youngblood," "Swing House" and "Walking Shoes"), worked at the Lighthouse and then gained a regular Monday night engagement at the Haig. Around this time Mulligan realized that he enjoyed the extra freedom of soloing without a pianist. He jammed with trumpeter Chet Baker and soon their magical rapport was featured in his piano-less quartet. The group caught on quickly in 1952 and made both Mulligan and Baker into stars.
A drug bust put Mulligan out of action and ended that quartet but, when he was released from jail in 1954, Mulligan began a new musical partnership with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer that was just as successful. Trumpeter Jon Eardley and Zoot Sims on tenor occasionally made the group a sextet and in 1958 trumpeter Art Farmer was featured in Mulligan's Quartet. Being a very flexible player with respect for other stylists, Mulligan went out of his way to record with some of the great musicians he admired. At the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival he traded off with baritonist Harry Carney on "Prima Bara Dubla" while backed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and during 1957-60 he recorded separate albums with Thelonious Monk, Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, Ben Webster and Johnny Hodges. Mulligan played on the classic Sound of Jazz television special in 1958 and appeared in the movies I Want to Live and The Subterraneans.
During 1960-64 Mulligan led his Concert Jazz Band which gave him an opportunity to write, play baritone and occasionally double on piano. The orchestra at times included Brookmeyer, Sims, Clark Terry and Mel Lewis. Mulligan was a little less active after the big band broke up but he toured extensively with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1968-72), had a part-time big band in the 1970s (the Age of Steam), doubled on soprano for a period, led a mid-'70s sextet that included vibraphonist Dave Samuels, and in 1986 jammed on a record with Scott Hamilton. In the 1990s he toured the world with his excellent "no-name" quartet and led a "Rebirth of the Cool Band" that performed and recorded remakes of the Miles Davis Nonet classics. Up until the end, Gerry Mulligan was always eager to play. Gerry Mulligan died on January 20th, 1996 in Darien, CT.
Among Mulligan's compositions were "Walkin' Shoes," "Line for Lyons," "Bark for Barksdale," "Nights at the Turntable," "Utter Chaos," "Soft Shoe," "Bernie's Tune," "Blueport," "Song for Strayhorn," "Song for an Unfinished Woman" and "I Never Was a Young Man" (which he often sang). He recorded extensively through the years for such labels as Prestige, Pacific Jazz, Capitol, Vogue, EmArcy, Columbia, Verve, Milestone, United Artists, Philips, Limelight, A&M, CTI, Chiaroscuro, Who's Who, DRG, Concord and GRP. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Old Devil Moon
Gerry Mulligan Lyrics
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Something in your eyes I see
Soon begins bewitching me
It's that old devil moon
That you stole from the skies
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
You and you glance make this romance
Stars in the night
Blazing their light
Can't hold a candle
To your razzle-dazzle
You've got me flyin' high and wide
On a magic carpet ride
Full of butterflies inside
Wanna cry, wanna croon
Wanna laugh like a loon
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
Just when I think
I'm free as a dove
Old devil moon
Deep in your eyes
Blinds me with love
The lyrics to Gerry Mulligan's song "Old Devil Moon" describe the overwhelming feeling of love and attraction that the singer experiences when looking into the eyes of their beloved. The "old devil moon" symbolizes the irresistible allure and magical power of love. It is described as something that was stolen from the skies and now resides in the eyes of the person the singer is enamored with.
The singer feels bewitched by the presence of this alluring moon in their lover's eyes, and their glance ignites a passionate romance that becomes too intense to handle. The comparison is made between the stars in the night sky and the lover's eyes, suggesting that the lover's radiance outshines even the celestial lights. The romance is described as full of razzle-dazzle, capturing the excitement and glamour of a captivating love affair.
The singer expresses the overwhelming effect this love has on them by feeling elated and blissful, as if flying high on a magic carpet ride. The butterflies inside symbolize the nervous excitement and anticipation that love can bring. The singer is inspired to both cry and croon, expressing a deep emotional connection and a desire to express their feelings with great intensity. The old devil moon in the lover's eyes blinds the singer with love, suggesting that they are completely consumed and infatuated.
Overall, "Old Devil Moon" explores the irresistible and bewitching power of love, capturing the intense emotions and enchantment that come with falling madly in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at you and suddenly
When I gaze upon you, all of a sudden
Something in your eyes I see
I perceive a certain something in your eyes
Soon begins bewitching me
Promptly, it commences enchanting me
It's that old devil moon
This captivating phenomenon is known as the old devil moon
That you stole from the skies
Which you pilfered from the celestial realm
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
That very old devil moon is now residing within your eyes
You and you glance make this romance
The connection between us, reinforced by your alluring gaze
Too hot to handle
Is simply too intense to withstand
Stars in the night
Even the stars shining in the nocturnal sky
Blazing their light
With their radiant glow
Can't hold a candle
Cannot compare in any way
To your razzle-dazzle
To your glittering and dazzling charm
You've got me flyin' high and wide
You have caused me to soar with exuberance and boundless delight
On a magic carpet ride
As if I were embarking on a fantastical journey upon a magic carpet
Full of butterflies inside
My insides are filled with fluttering butterflies
Wanna cry, wanna croon
I long to shed tears and to sing with heartfelt emotion
Wanna laugh like a loon
I desire to burst into laughter uncontrollably
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
The presence of the old devil moon in your eyes is the cause
Just when I think
Precisely at the moment when I believe
I'm free as a dove
That I am as liberated as a gentle dove
Old devil moon
The old devil moon
Deep in your eyes
Lies deeply entrenched within your eyes
Blinds me with love
And overwhelms me with love
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Lane, E. Y. Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind