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
The Shadow of Your Smile
Gerry Mulligan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you have gone
Will color all my dreams
And light the dawn
Look into my eyes my love and see
All the lovely things you are to me
It was far, too high
A teardrop kissed your lips
And so did I
Now when I remember spring
All the joys that love can bring
I will be remembering
The shadow of your smile
The Shadow of Your Smile is a song about longing and reminiscence. The first line sets the tone of the whole piece, highlighting the idea that the presence of the person the singer loves colors their dreams and illuminates the dawn. The second verse is particularly emotive as it describes a moment in which the singer and their lover were perhaps caught up in a moment of intense emotion, symbolized by the passing of a teardrop. The third verse includes the most powerful aspect of the song as the singer recalls the joys of love through memories of the lover, and specifically through the shadow of their smile.
The lyrics of the song conjure up powerful images and emotions. The idea that the shadow of someone’s smile could be such a powerful force in someone’s life is a striking metaphor that works brilliantly. This song has become a classic, covered by many artists, and for good reason. The melody and lyrics really do work together to create something very special.
Line by Line Meaning
The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smiling face
When you have gone
Once you have left
Will color all my dreams
Will influence my dreams
And light the dawn
And affect the beginning of every day
Look into my eyes my love and see
Look deeply into my eyes and understand
All the lovely things you are to me
All the wonderful aspects of you that I cherish
Our wistful little star
Our hopeful but melancholic relationship
It was far, too high
It was an unattainable dream
A teardrop kissed your lips
I shared a kiss with you as we both shed tears
And so did I
I also shed tears
Now when I remember spring
When I recall past happiness
All the joys that love can bring
All the delightful experiences that come with love
I will be remembering
I will reminisce
The shadow of your smile
The memory of your smiling face
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mandel, Paul Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nothingbutjazz
My wife passed away late last year I miss her shadow of her smile. Thanks Gerry
@timmo491
So sorry mate. All the best from England keep your chin up.
@dwaynephoenix4947
I know I am kinda randomly asking but do anybody know of a good site to watch newly released tv shows online?
@chasejefferson2022
@Dwayne Phoenix Flixportal =)
@dwaynephoenix4947
@Chase Jefferson Thank you, signed up and it seems to work :D Appreciate it!
@chasejefferson2022
@Dwayne Phoenix Glad I could help =)
@user-kr5to7xn1r
哀愁を帯びた演奏💖が、好き💖彼のファンです､ワ💟🍸
@vevster7806
one of the greatest bari players to ever live. RIP Gerry
@user-vv1vl6dw5v
The tone of the baritone saxophone is also so good.
@dadodydo
When music was music... Just great!