George Gruntz
George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band, an orchestra that emphasized originals by bandmembers (both past and present) and the leader's arrangements, was one of the most stimulating of all jazz big bands, with a history spanning a number of decades. Gruntz, a fine pianist, played locally in Switzerland and then debuted in the United States when he appeared with Marshall Brown's International Youth Band at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. His trio in Europe accompanied touring American musicians in the 1960s including Dexter Gordon and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and formed three-quarters of Phil Woods' adventurous European Rhythm Machine (1968-1969). Gruntz recorded in many different settings, including with the Swiss All-Stars, a four-flute septet, and with Mideast musicians and Jean-Luc Ponty on 1967's Noon in Tunisia. In 1972, he formed the Concert Jazz Band, which through the years featured a who's who of top musicians including Benny Bailey, Woody Shaw, Franco Ambrosetti, Dexter Gordon, Herb Geller, Phil Woods, Eddie Daniels, Ray Anderson, Lew Soloff, Chris Hunter, Bob Mintzer, and many other Americans and Europeans; they typically toured twice a year and even performed in China. Gruntz also recorded with smaller groups, and in the '90s and 2000s, his records were released by Enja and TCB. George Gruntz died at his home in Basel, Switzerland on January 10, 2013; he was 80 years old.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
11 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Mental Cruelty - The 1960 Jazz Soundtrack
Film Soundtracks - Released by Unheard Music Series - Atavistic on 6 May 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
George Gruntz Dig My Trane
Jazz - Released by TCB - The Montreux Jazz Label™ on 17 Jun 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ringing the Luminator - Piano Works II
Jazz - Released by ACT Music on 26 Sep 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Monster Sticksland Meeting Two (Live)
Jazz - Released by MPS on 10 Mar 2017
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
30+70 - The 100 Years Of George Gruntz
Jazz - Released by TCB - The Montreux Jazz Label™ on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
30+70 - The 100 Years Of George Gruntz
Jazz - Released by TCB - The Montreux Jazz Label™ on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo