Tag Archives: George Gruntz

Less McCann & The Jazz CRusaders: Jazz Waltz

In December 1963, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Jazz Waltz”, album by Less McCan and The Jazz Crusaders (the twelve Less McCan album overall). It was recorded in 1963, at “Pacific Jazz Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Les McCann – piano, electric piano, organ
  • Wilton Felder – tenor saxophone
  • Wayne Henderson – trombone
  • Joe Sample – piano, organ
  • Bobby Haynes – bass
  • Stix Hooper – drums
  • Richard Bock – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Les McCann except where noted.

  1. Spanish Castles – George Gruntz
  2. Blues for Yna Yna – Gerald Wilson
  3. Damascus
  4. 3/4 For God & Co.
  5. Bluesette – Toots Thielemans
  6. Big City – Marvin Jenkins
  7. This Here – Bobby Timmons
  8. Jitterbug Waltz – Fats Waller
  9. All Blues – Miles Davis
  10. Jazz Waltz – Bobby Haynes

Howard Johnson

On January 11, 2021, Howard Lewis Johnson died aged 79. He was musician (tuba, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, trumpet), member and leader of the tuba ensembles Tuba Libre, Substructure, and Gravity. He recorded and performed with some of the world best known musicians and bands, including George Gruntz, Hank Crawford, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Hank Crawford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Hank Mobley, Levon Helm, Tomasz Stanko, Gary Burton, Gábor Szabó, Bob Thiele, Charlie Haden, Jazz Composers, Andrew Hill, Leon Thomas, Johnny Coles, Taj Mahal, Charles Tolliver, The Band, Carla Bley, John Lennon, Sam Rivers, Gato Barbieri, Jaco Pastorius, Muddy Waters, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, David “Fathead” Newman,  James Taylor, Jack De Johnette, Jimmy Heath, Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, NDR Big Band, Ray Anderson, Barbara Dennerlein, John Scofield, T. S. Monk, Mario Pavone, and Chet Baker. As leader he released four albums.

Franco Ambrosetti: Light Breeze

On April 21, 1998, “Enja” label released “Light Breeze”, the 18th Franco Ambrosetti album. It was recorded in 1997, at “Avatar Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Matthias Winckelmann.

Personnel:

  • Franco Ambrosetti– flugelhorn
  • John Abercrombie– guitar
  • Antonio Faraò– piano
  • Miroslav Vitous– bass
  • Billy Drummond– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Franco Ambrosetti except where noted

  1. Versace – Daniel Humair
  2. Silli’s Nest (Interlude 1)
  3. Deborah – Gian Luca Ambrosetti
  4. Culture and Sensitivity (Interlude 2) – John Abercrombie
  5. Contempo Latinsky
  6. Elegia (Interlude 3) – Antonio Faraò
  7. My Foolish Heart – Victor Young, Ned Washington
  8. Virtuosismo (Interlude 4) – Miroslav Vitous
  9. One for the Kids – George Gruntz
  10. Percussion Dreams (Interlude 5) – Billy Drummond
  11. Giant Steps – John Coltrane
  12. Silli in the Sky

Alphonse Mouzon

On December 25, 2016, Alphonse Lee Mouzon died aged 68. He was musician (drums), composer, arranger, producer and actor, and the owner of Tenacious Records. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and music acts including Arild Andersen, Donald Byrd,  Herbie Hancock, Bobbi Humphrey, Joachim Kühn, Les McCann, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Weather Report, Eugene McDaniels, Betty Davis, Infinity, Doug Carn, Norman Connors, Willie Colon, Poussez, Al Di Meola, Torsten de Winkel, Hellmut Hattler, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Fania All-Stars, Carlos Garnett, George Gruntz, Tim Hardin, Miki Howard, Paul Jackson, Paul Jackson Jr., Alphonso Johnson and Patrick Moraz.