Bark For Barksdale is an instrumental jazz tune written by Gerry Mulligan. It was first recorded by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet on September 2, 1952 and released in 1953 on a single with My Funny Valentine (Fantasy 525 US). The piece sits in the cool jazz and bop styles that Mulligan explored in the early 1950s. The recording features Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax, Chet Baker on trumpet, Carson Smith on bass and Chico Hamilton on drums. Bark For Barksdale has since been performed and recorded by other artists, showing its lasting place in the Mulligan repertoire. The single's flip side, My Funny Valentine, helped bring attention to the quartet’s intimate, melodic approach.
