George Gruntz

George Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with Phil Woods, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, and Mel Lewis.

Gruntz, who was born in Basel, Switzerland, was also an accomplished arranger and composer, having been commissioned by many orchestras and symphonies. From 1972 to 1994, he served as artistic director of JazzFest Berlin.

He died at the age of 80 in January 2013.

Discography As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1960Mental Cruelty: The 1960 Jazz soundtrackDecca, Atavisticreleased 1960, almost immediately withdrawn by the record company due to unresolved legal issues. Finally reissued in 2003 by Atavistic.1964Bach Humbug! Or Jazz Goes BaroqueQuintet1964Jazz Goes Baroque1965Jazz Goes Baroque 2 – The Music of Italy1967Noon in Tunisia1967Drums and Folklore: From Sticksland with Love1968Saint Peter Power1972?The Band – The Alpine Power Plant1973?2001 Keys – Piano Conclave1974?Monster Sticksland Meeting Two – Monster Jazz1974?Eternal Baroque1976?The Band (Recorded Live at the Zürich Schauspielhaus)1977?For Flying out Proud1977?Percussion Profiles1978?The George Gruntz Concert Big Band with Elvin Jones1980?Live at the "Quartier Latin" Berlin1983TheatreECMWith big band1986?Living Transition. With Radio Big Band Leipzig1987Happening Now! HatHut With big band (Concert Jazz Band '87)1989First Prize EnjaWith big band1989Serious Fun EnjaMost tracks trio, with Mike Richmond (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums); one track quartet, with Franco Ambrosetti (flugelhorn) added1991?Blues 'n Dues Et Cetera Enja1992Beyond Another WallTCBWith big band; in concert1992?Cosmopolitan Greetingscomposition for big band, libretto by Allen Ginsberg1994Big Band RecordGramavisionCo-led with Ray Anderson (trombone); with big band1995Mock-Lo-MotionTCBSome tracks trio, with Mike Richmond (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums); some tracks quartet, with Franco Ambrosetti (flugelhorn) added; in concert1998LiebermannTCBWith big band1998MerryteriaTCBWith big band1999?Live at JazzFest Berlin2000?Expo Triangle2001Global ExcellenceTCBWith big band2004Ringing the LuminatorACTSolo piano2003?The Magic of a FluteWith big band, eight singers2005Tiger by the TailTCBWith big band2007Pourquoi pas? Why Not?With big band2010?Matterhorn Matters2012?Dig My Trane – Coltrane's Vanguard Years (1961–1962)with the NDR Bigband and Tom Rainey

Main sources:

Compilations Sins'n Wins'n Funs – Left-cores and Hard-core En-cores, 1981–1990 (Compilation, released 1996) The MPS Years, 1972–1981 (Compilation, released 1996) Renaissance Man a.k.a. 30 + 70: The One Hundred Years of George Gruntz, 1961–2000 (Compilation, released 2002)

As sideman With Franco Ambrosetti Close Encounter (Enja, 1979)

George Gruntz

Bron en licentie