The Gerry Mulligan 1950s Quartets

Alyn Shipton has produced a well-researched, excellently detailed study of Mulligan's quartets. A very enjoyable read. * Bill Crow, author of From Birdland to Broadway: Scenes from a Jazz Life and bassist in the Mulligan quartet *
Mulligan's brainy but playful artistry gets the attention it deserves in this valuable study by Alyn Shipton. His writing teems with clear, meticulous scholarship, musical understanding, and a desire to make his subject appealing and accessible to everyone from casual jazz lovers to musicians. With Shipton's book in hand, readers will set forth on a beautiful voyage of discovery. * James Gavin, award-winning music journalist and author of Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker *
Highly recommended. * Lance Liddle, bebop spoken here *
With forensic attention to detail Alyn Shipton reveals fresh and original material about a group that created a totally new ensemble sound. Famously pianoless the quartet was dominated by Gerry Mulligan's baritone saxophone not only as a soloist but also as an accompanying voice. In his Preface, the author makes it clear to being "fascinated by Mulligan's playing, writing and band-leading" since his schooldays. The research he undertook in 2002 for a four-part series on Mulligan's music for BBC Radio 3 allowed him to meet many "musicians and associates from all periods of his career". His "comprehensive sweep through newspaper and magazine reports" uncovers much that is new in the quartet's evolution. * Gordon Jack, The Jazz *
Meticulously detailed but intensely readable analysis of the baritone sax giant's creative heyday. * Ben Thompson, Mojo magazine *
The book places Gerry Mulligan's 1950s pianoless quartet in its historical and musical context by a detailed discussion of its recordings. * Gordon Jack, Jazz Profiles *
This becomes the most useful book on Mulligan so far, and an appropriate celebration of his unique contribution. * Brian Priestley, Jazzwise *
A worthwhile addition to the literature on Gerry Mulligan and a valuable aid to understanding a transformative period of modern jazz. * Ian Patterson, All About Jazz *
The jazz world has not been blessed with many books about Gerry Mulligan that are commensurate with his stature as one of the most important jazz musicians and composers. Shipton's book is an exception: it is excellent and essential. * Jack Kenny, Jazz Views *