DownBeat is a publication that is dedicated to jazz and blues. The magazine is named after the "downbeat" in music. DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame includes winners from both the readers' and critics' poll. In 1976 Mulligan was honored with this award.

Gerry Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. He was a giant in the jazz world and regarded as one of, if not the greatest, jazz baritonists of all time. Though Mulligan is primarily known as a jazz baritone saxophonist - playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz - he was also a skilled arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others.

This item comes to us directly from the Mulligan family. The proceeds from this item will go to The Gerry and Franca Mulligan Foundation, a charitable foundation established to fulfill Gerry's wishes to provide music education to young musicians, donate musical instruments to inner city schools, and perpetuate the music of Gerry Mulligan.