Alyn Shipton – “Gerry Mulligan” quartet
Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan is perhaps the greatest, and most famous, baritone sax player of all time. During his career he played with jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, and Miles Davis.
When he died in 1996, the New York Times wrote:
“In his hands the baritone saxophone, usually a burly, stiff creature, became supple and elegant.”
Alyn Shipton and Ian Smith
This specially formed quartet offers an intimate look at baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's musical development throughout the 1950s, when he formed the first major group in jazz that did not have a chordal instrument, such as a piano or guitar. The music plays ranges from classic pieces played by the initial quartet with trumpeter Chet Baker, such as ‘Walkin’ Shoes’ and ‘My Funny Valentine’ to the music of its later line-ups with Bob Brookmeyer, Jon Eardley, or Art Farmer taking Chet’s place.
Alyn Shipton is a writer, jazz musician and host of Radio 3’s 'Jazz Record Requests’. He has had a lifelong interest in Mulligan’s music and in 2023 published the first full length book on Mulligan’s 1950s Quartets (Oxford University Press). Copies will be available on the night.
Joining Alyn are Britain's leading jazz baritone saxophonist Alan Barnes, drummer Clark Tracey — who has played with all the major names in British jazz — and trumpeter Ian Smith who has been a musical colleague of Alyn’s in many bands for over three decades!
Featuring
- Alan Barnes
- Ian Smith
- Clark Tracey
- Alyn Shipton.