George Mraz
Encyclopedia
George Mraz is a jazz bassist
and alto saxophonist
. He was a member of Oscar Peterson
's group, and has worked with Stan Getz
, Tommy Flanagan
, Chet Baker
and many other important jazz musicians. He also appears with Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, and Paul Motian on Lovano's records, I'm All for You and Joyous Encounter.
During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet
and in the 1980s a member of Quest
.
With Toshiko Akiyoshi
With Richard Beirach
With Andy LaVerne
and Al Foster
With Mike Nock
With Mal Waldron
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and alto saxophonist
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
. He was a member of Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
's group, and has worked with Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
, Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan
Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
, Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
and many other important jazz musicians. He also appears with Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, and Paul Motian on Lovano's records, I'm All for You and Joyous Encounter.
During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet
New York Jazz Quartet
The New York Jazz Quartet was founded by pianist Roland Hanna. First consisting of flautist Hubert Laws, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham, in 1974 the lineup changed to Frank Wess, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Ben Riley. Richie Pratt and Grady Tate also contributed. The group...
and in the 1980s a member of Quest
Quest (band)
Quest are an American jazz band, which includes saxophonist Dave Liebman, pianist Richie Beirach, drummer Billy Hart, and, at various times, bassists George Mraz and Ron McClure.-Discography:* 1981: Quest* 1987: Quest 2...
.
As leader
- Catching Up, 1992
- Jazz with Richie BeirachRichie BeirachRichard "Richie" Beirach is a jazz pianist and composer born in New York City.He initially studied both classical and jazz before entering the Berklee College of Music....
, Billy HartBilly HartWilliam "Billy" Hart is a jazz drummer and educator who has performed with some of the most important jazz musicians in history.-Biography:Early on Hart performed in Washington, D.C...
, Larry WillisLarry WillisLawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
, Rich PerryRich PerryRich Perry is an American jazz tenor saxophonist from Cleveland, Ohio.Rich Perry attended Bowling Green State University for a year before moving to New York. Perry first toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1975, and followed it with time in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra the following...
, 1995 - My Foolish Heart with Richie Beirach, Billy Hart, 1995
- Bottom Lines with Cyrus ChestnutCyrus ChestnutCyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, songwriter, and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time Magazine, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space." Chestnut enjoys mixing styles and resists being...
, Al FosterAl FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
, Rich Perry, 1997 - Duke's Place with Renee RosnesRenee RosnesIrene Louise Rosnes , professionally known as Renee Rosnes , is a pianist, composer and arranger in the hard bop and post-bop mediums.-Biography:...
, Billy DrummondBilly DrummondWillis Robert "Billy" Drummond, Jr. is an American jazz drummer.Drummond learned jazz from an early age from his father, who was a drummer and a jazz enthusiast and whose record collection included many recordings of Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones, among others...
, Cyrus ChestnutCyrus ChestnutCyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, songwriter, and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time Magazine, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space." Chestnut enjoys mixing styles and resists being...
, 1999 - Morava with Billy Hart, Emil ViklickyEmil ViklickýEmil Viklický is a Czech jazz pianist and composer. In 1971 he graduated from Palacký University with a degree in mathematics. While a student he devoted much time to playing jazz piano. In 1974, he was awarded the prize for best soloist at the Czechoslovak Amateur Jazz Festival, and that same...
, Zuzana Lapčíková, 2002 - Moravian Gems with Iva Bittova, Emil ViklickyEmil ViklickýEmil Viklický is a Czech jazz pianist and composer. In 1971 he graduated from Palacký University with a degree in mathematics. While a student he devoted much time to playing jazz piano. In 1974, he was awarded the prize for best soloist at the Czechoslovak Amateur Jazz Festival, and that same...
, Laco Tropp, 2007
As sideman
With John AbercrombieJohn Abercrombie (guitarist)
John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist, whose work often explores jazz fusion and post bop. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker...
- ArcadeArcade (John Abercrombie album)Arcade is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Arcade" - 9:36# "Nightlake" - 5:31# "Paramour" - 5:06...
(ECM, 1978) - Abercrombie QuartetAbercrombie QuartetAbercrombie Quartet is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 2½ stars.-Track listing:# "Blue Wolf" - 8:20# "Dear Rain" - 6:49...
(ECM, 1979) - MM (album)M is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie's Quartet recorded in 1980 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Jim Todd awarded the album 2½ stars stating "If only all of this set were as brilliantly melodic and driving as its best three tracks".-Track listing:# "Boat Song"...
(ECM, 1980)
With Toshiko Akiyoshi
Toshiko Akiyoshi
is a Japanese American jazz pianist, composer/arranger and bandleader. Among a very few successful female instrumentalists of her generation in jazz, she is also recognized as a major figure in jazz composition. She has received 14 Grammy nominations, and she was the first woman to win the Best...
- Time Stream (1984)
- Time Stream: Toshiko Plays ToshikoTime Stream: Toshiko Plays ToshikoTime Stream: Toshiko Plays Toshiko is a small jazz combo album by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi playing her own compositions. It was recorded in 1996 and released by Nippon Crown Records...
(1996) - Remembering Bud: Cleopatra's DreamRemembering Bud: Cleopatra's DreamRemembering Bud: Cleopatra's Dream is a jazz trio album recorded by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1990 and released on the Nippon Crown record label in Japan and on the Evidence label in the USA.-Track listing:...
(1990) - HopeHope (Toshiko Akiyoshi album)Hope is a jazz album by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi. It was recorded by Nippon Crown Records in December, 2005 and released in 2006. A CD single "Hope " was also released by Nippon Crown that includes the title track version included here and two new vocal versions, one in Japanese and one in...
(2006)
With Richard Beirach
- ElmElm (album)Elm is an album by American jazz pianist and composer Richard Beirach recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by David R...
(ECM, 1979)
With Andy LaVerne
Andy LaVerne
Andy LaVerne is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.LaVerne studied at Juilliard School of Music, Berklee College, and the New England Conservatory, and took private lessons from legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans...
and Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
- Time Well Spent (1994)
With Mike Nock
Mike Nock
Mike Nock is a jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. He began studying piano at 11 and by 18 was performing in Australia. He headed a trio that toured England in 1961 and then attended Berklee College of Music...
- In Out and Around featuring Mike Brecker and Al FosterAl FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
) (1979)
With Mal Waldron
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
- Mal 81Mal 81Mal 81 is an album by American jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded in 1981 and released by the Progressive label.-Track listing:# "Love For Sale" — 6:40# "Summertime" — 6:20...
(Progressive, 1981)