Tag Archives: George Mraz

The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra: New Life

In December 1976, “A&M/Horizon Records” label released “New Life (Dedicated to Max Gordon)”, the twelve Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (The) album. It was recorded July 1975, January – December 1976, at “A&R Recording Inc.” in New York City, and was produced by John Snyder.

Personnel:

  • Thad Jones – flugelhorn, arrangements
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Barry Finnerty – electric guitar
  • David Spinozza – electric guitar
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Walter Norris – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Steve Gilmore – acoustic bass
  • Rasan Mfalme (Jerry Jemmott) – electric bass
  • Herb Lovelle – drums
  • Leonard Gibbs – congas
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute, soprano saxophone
  • Frank Foster – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Lou Marini – clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
  • Greg Herbert – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Ed Xiques – soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Waymon Reed – trumpet
  • Steve Furtado – trumpet
  • Sinclair Acey – trumpet
  • Jim Bossy – trumpet
  • Cecil Bridgewater – trumpet
  • Billy Campbell – trombone
  • Janice Robinson – trombone
  • Earl McIntyre – bass trombone, trombone
  • John Mosca – trombone
  • Dave Taylor – bass trombone
  • Jim Buffington – French horn
  • Ray Alonge – French horn
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Earl Chapin – French horn
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Don Butterfield – tuba

Track listing:

All tracks by Thad Jones except where noted.

  1. Greetings And Salutations
  2. And Harmony – composed and arranged by Cecil Bridgewater
  3. Little Rascal on a Rock
  4. Forever Lasting
  5. Love To One Is One to Love
  6. Thank You – composed and arranged by Jerry Dodgion
  7. Cherry Juice

Al Foster

On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster aka Al Foster, died aged 82. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Blue Mitchell, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Joe Henderson, Joanne Brackeen, Cedar Walton, Larry Willis, Steve Kuhn, Tommy Flanagan, Chris Potter, George Adams, Richie Beirach, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop Jr, Donald Byrn, Eli Degibri, Eliane Elias, Eric Le Lann, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Sadik Hakim, Jimmy Heath, Duke Jordan, Shirley Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Jones, Yusef Lateef, Andy LaVerne, Abbey Lincoln, Fred Lipsius, Larry Willis, George Mraz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Joe Lovano, Frank Morgan, Johnny Lytle, Hugh Masakela, Ronnie Mathews, Tete Montoliu, Sam Morrison, Bud Shank, Reggie Workman, Peter Zak, Cecil Payne, Dave Liebman and Art Pepper. As leader, Foster released eighth albums.

Tommy Flanagan: Ballads & Blues

In December 1978, “Enja” label released “Ballads & Blues”, the 16th Tommy Flanagan album. It was recorded in 1978, at “Penthouse Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Matthias Winckelman and Horst Weber.

Personnel:

  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Davud Baker – recording
  • Chip Stokes – recording assistant
  • John Kilgore – recording assistant
  • Christa Brüggemann – lacquer cut
  • Matthias Winckelman, Horst Weber – design
  • Adelhard Roidinger – front cover photography
  • Giuseppe Pino – back cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Tommy Flanagan, except where noted.

  1. Blue Twenty
  2. Scrapple from the Apple – Charlie Parker
  3. With Malice Towards None – Tom McIntosh
  4. Blues for Sarka – George Mraz
  5. Star Eyes – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  6. They Say It’s Spring – Bob Haymes, Marty Clark
  7. Birks’ Works – Dizzy Gillespie

Urbie Green: The Fox

In December 1976, “CTI” label released “The Fox”, the 18th Urbie Green album. It was recorded July – November 1976, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Urbie Green – trombone
  • Fred Gripper – electric piano
  • Barry Miles – piano, keyboards
  • Mike Abene – piano
  • Toots Thielmans – harmonica, whistle
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Anthony Jackson – electric bass
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Jimmy Madison – drums
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Sue Evans – percussion
  • Nicky Marrero – percussion
  • Mike Mainieri – vibraphone
  • Joe Farrell – flute, soprano saxophone
  • Jeremy Steig – flute
  • David Matthews – arrangements, footsteps

Track listing:

  1. Another Star – Stevie Wonder
  2. Goodbye – Gordon Jenkins
  3. Mertensia – David Matthews
  4. You Don’t Know What Love Is – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  5. Manteca – Gil Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo
  6. Foxglove Suite – Richard Wagner
  7. Please Send Me Someone to Love – Percy Mayfield

Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica: Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orschetra

In September 1976, “Pausa” label released “Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orchestra”, album by Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica. It was recorded in September 1973 in London and in July 1974 in Perugia, Italy.

Personnel:

  • Manuel De Sica – composer
  • Thad Jones – flugelhorn
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • Eddie Xiques – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
  • Ron Bridgewater – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Jim Bossy – trumpet
  • Steve Furtado – trumpet
  • Cecil Bridgewater – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Billy Campbell – trombone
  • Cliff Heather – trombone

Track listing:

  1. First Jazz Suite – Manuel De Sica
  2. Brasserie
  3. Father
  4. Sing
  5. Ballade
  6. For Life
  7. Little Pixie – Thad Jones

Keystone Trio: Heart Beats

On December 4, 1995, “Milestone” label released “Heart Beats”, the debut Keystone Trio album. It was recorded in 1995, at “Clinton Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Todd Barkan.

Personnel:

  • John Hicks– piano
  • George Mraz– bass
  • Idris Muhammad– drums
  • Freddy Cole– vocals

Track listing:

  1. Speak Low
  2. I Fall in Love Too Easily
  3. If I Should Lose You
  4. It Had to Be You
  5. How Deep Is the Ocean
  6. Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
  7. Dancing in the Dark
  8. Two Hearts
  9. Stay as Sweet as You Are

Kenny Barron Trio: Minor Blues

On August 19, 2009, “Venus” label released “Minor Blues”, the 43rd Kenny Barron album. It was recorded in 2009, and was produced by Tetsuo Hara and Todd Barkan.

  • Kenny Barron– piano
  • George Mraz– bass
  • Ben Riley– drums

Track listing:

  1. Minor Blues – Kenny Barron
  2. Beautiful Love – Wayne King, Victor Young, Egbert Van Alstyne, Haven Gillespie
  3. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  4. For Heaven’s Sake – Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer
  5. How Deep Is the Ocean? – Irving Berlin
  6. Too Late Now – Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner
  7. Don’t Explain – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  8. Hush-a-Bye – Ambroise Thomas, Sammy Fain, Jerry Seelen
  9. I’ve Never Been in Love Before – Frank Loesser
  10. My Ideal – Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting, Newell Chase

Joe Lovano: Joyous Encounter

On May 10, 2005, “Blue Note” label released “Joyous Encounter”, the 22nd Joe Lovano album. It was recorded in September 2004, at “Avatar Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joe Lovano.

Personnel:

  • Joe Lovano – curved soprano, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Paul Motian – drums

Track listing:

  1. Autumn in New York – Vernon Duke
  2. Bird’s Eye View – Joe Lovano
  3. Don’t Ever Leave Me – Thad Jones
  4. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  5. Six and Four – Oliver Nelson
  6. Pannonica – Thelonious Monk
  7. Consummation – Hank Jones
  8. Quiet Lady -Thad Jones
  9. Joyous Encounter – Joe Lovano
  10. A Child Is Born – Thad Jones
  11. Crescent – John Coltrane

Joe Lovano: I’m All for You

On May 4, 2003, “Blue Note” label released “I’m All For You”, the 21st Joe Lovano album. It was recorded in June 2002, at “Avatar Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joe Lovano.

Personnel:

  • Joe Lovano – tenor sxophone
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Paul Motian – drums, cymbals

Track listing:

All tracks by Joe Lovano, except where noted.

  1. I’m All For You
  2. Don’t Blame Me
  3. Monk’s Mood – Thelonious Monk
  4. The Summary (A Suite for Pops)
  5. Stella by Starlight – Victor Young
  6. I Waited for You
  7. Like Someone in Love
  8. Early Autumn
  9. Countdown

Stan Getz: Voyage

On March 9, 1986, “Black Hawk Records” label released “Voyage”, the 99th Stan Getz album. It was recorded in 1985, at “Music Annex Recording Studio” in Menlo Park, California, and was produced by Herb Wong.

Personnel:

  • Stan Getz- tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Barron- piano
  • George Mraz– bass
  • Victor Lewis- drums
  • Babatunde Lea– percussion
  • Jim Dean – engineer assistant
  • Phil Edwards – mixing engineer
  • Roger Seibel – mastering
  • Herb Wong – line notes

Track listing:

  1. I Wanted to Stay – Victor Lewis
  2. I Thought About You – Jimmy Van Heusen
  3. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern
  4. Dreams – Kenny Barron
  5. Falling in Love – Victor Feldman
  6. Voyage – Kenny Barron