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. (wikipedia)
Born in Basle, Switzerland in 1932 he began his career as member of the Newport International Band at the Newport festival in 1958. During the sixties Gruntz toured throughout Europe as keyboarder for such as Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker, ohnny Griffin, Art Farmer. In 1968 and 69 he worked and recorded with Phil Woods European Rhythm Machine. 1973 The World Jazz Opera commissoned by the Paris State Opera – a collaboration with poet Amiri Baraka, several works of a similar scope followed. From 1970 to 1984 Gruntz was the musical director of the Zurich State Theatre and from 1972 to 1994 the artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Festival.
The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band (GGCJB) was founded by George Gruntz, Flavio and Franco Ambrosetti, Daniel Humair and manager Gérard Lüll in 1972. Over the course of the years the cream of modern jazz musicians played the compositions of GG in this unique orchestra (Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Bennie Wallace, Lee Konitz, John Scofield and many more) touring the globe. The GGCJB was the first large jazz orchestra to tour China with great acclaim in 1992 appearing in Bejing, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong. (enja.com)
Pianist/composer George Gruntz had led his Concert Jazz Band for nearly 20 years at the time of this Enja CD. Although the personnel changes to a large extent every year, Gruntz’s principles for his music (all of which he arranges) have remained the same: utilize flexible virtuosi on a repertoire of originals drawn entirely from the band. This particular release combines such major players as altoist Chris Hunter, guitarist John Scofield, trombonist Ray Anderson, trumpeters Wallace Roney, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Michael Mossman, Marvin Stamm, John D’Earth and Franco Ambrosetti and tenors Bob Mintzer, Bob Malach and Jerry Bergonzi on a diverse and well-rounded set of unpredictable music. Anderson’s “Rap for Nap” is particularly odd. It’s well worth investigating. (by Scott Yanow)
Personnel:
Franco Ambrosetti (fluglhorn on 03.)
Ray Anderson (trombone on 02., 06. + 09.)
David Bargeron (euphonium on 01., 03. – 05., 07. – 09., trombone on 02., 06. + 09.)
Art Baron (trombone on 02., 06. + 09.)
Jerry Bergonzi (guitar on 01., 04. + 05.)
Randy Brecker (trumpet on 01., 04. + 05.)
John Clark (french horn on 01., 03. – 05., 07. – 09.)
John D’earth (trumpet on 02., 06. + 09.)
Jon Faddis (trumpet on 02., 06. + 09.)
George Gruntz (piano)
Chris Hunter (saxophone on 01., 02., 04., 05. + 09.)
Howard Johnson (tuba)
Bob Malach (guitar on 01., 02. 04., 05. + 09.)
David Mann (saxophone on 02., 04. + 09.)
Bob Millikan (trumpet on 01., 04. + 05.)
Bob Mintzer (guitar on 01., 04. + 05.)
Adam Nussbaum (drums)
Jerry Peel (french horn on 01., 03. – 05., 07. – 09.)
Jim Pugh (euphonium on 01., 03. – 05., 07. – 09.)
Mike Richmond (bass)
Wallace Roney (trumpet on 02., 06. + 09.)
Roger Rosenberg (saxophone on 02., 04. + 09.)
John Scofield (guitar)
Marvin Stamm (flugelhorn on 03., 07. + 08., trumpet on 01., 02., 04. – 06. + 09.)
Dave Taylor ( (trombone on 02., 06. + 09., vocals on 09.)
+
The Lucifers Brass Ensemble (on 02., 06. + 09.)
Tracklist:
01. Q-Base (Gruntz) 4.21
02. Datune (Anderson) 4.54
03. Forest Cathedral (Gruntz) 10.43
04. Blues ‘N Dues Et Cetera (Gruntz) 6.32
05. Two Friends (Gruntz) 8.52
06. Rap For Nap (Gruntz) 6.48
07. Sentimental Over Mental Food – In A Sentimental Mood (Ellington/Gruntz) 4.59
08. Giuseppi (Gruntz) 9.12
09. General Cluster (Gruntz) 10.48
ManyFantasticColors 