George_Mraz

George Mraz

George Mraz

Czech-born American jazz bassist (1944–2021)

George Mraz (born Jiří Mráz; 9 September 1944 – 16 September 2021)[1] was a Czech-born American jazz bassist and alto saxophonist.[2] He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and worked with Pepper Adams, Stan Getz, Michel Petrucciani, Stephane Grappelli, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Raney, Chet Baker, Joe Henderson, John Abercrombie, John Scofield, and Richie Beirach, among others.

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Mraz (center) performing with Emil Viklický (piano) and Billy Hart (drums).

During the 1970s, he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet and The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and in the 1980s a member of Quest.[3] He also appeared with Joe Lovano, Hank Jones and Paul Motian on Lovano's records I'm All For You and Joyous Encounter.

Mraz died on September 16, 2021, in Prague. The immediate cause of death was undisclosed, though he had battled pancreatic cancer in 2016.[4]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

With the New York Jazz Quartet

  • The New York Jazz Quartet In Concert In Japan (Salvation (Japan), 1975)
  • Surge (Enja, 1977)
  • Song of the Black Knight (Sonet 1977)
  • Blues for Sarka (Enja, 1978)
  • New York Jazz Quartet in Chicago (Bee Hive, 1981)
  • Oasis (Enja, 1981)
  • Manhattan David Hazeltine - George Mraz Trio (Chesky Records) 2006
  • Your StoryGeorge Mraz / David Hazeltine Trio (Cube - Metier) 2012

As sideman

With Pepper Adams

With John Abercrombie

With Toshiko Akiyoshi

With Eric Alexander

With Chet Baker

With Kenny Barron

With Richie Beirach

  • Elm (ECM, 1979)

With Dee Dee Bridgewater

With Bob Brookmeyer

With Kenny Burrell

With George Cables

With Benny Carter

With Arnett Cobb

With Larry Coryell

With Kenny Drew

With Yelena Eckemoff featuring Mark Turner, Joe Locke & Billy Hart

  • A Touch of Radiance (L&H, 2014)

With Jon Faddis

With Art Farmer

With Tommy Flanagan

With Stan Getz

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Urbie Green

With Jim Hall

With Sir Roland Hanna

  • 1 X 1 (Toho (Japan), 1974)
  • Porgy & Bess (Trio (Japan), 1976)
  • 24 Preludes Book 1 (Salvation (Japan), 1976)
  • Time for the Dancers (Progressive, 1977)
  • Sir Elf Plus 1 (Choice, 1977)
  • Glove (Trio (Japan), 1977)
  • 24 Preludes Book 2 (Salvation (Japan), 1977)
  • This Must Be Love (Progressive 1978)
  • Rolandscape (Progressive, 1978)
  • Roland Hanna and George Mraz Play for Monk (Musical Heritage Society, 1978)
  • Sunrise, Sunset (LOB, 1979)
  • Romanesque (Trio (Japan), 1982)
  • This Must Be Love (Audiophile, 1983)
  • Milano, Paris, New York: Finding John Lewis (Venus, 2002)

With Jaroslav Jakubovič

  • Coincidence (VMM, 2009)

With Scott Hamilton

With Elvin Jones

With Fred Lipsius

  • Dreaming of Your Love,[5] (mja Records, 1995)

With Keystone Trio

With Jimmy Knepper

With Steve Kuhn

With Andy LaVerne and Al Foster

  • Time Well Spent (1994)

With John Lewis

With Joe Lovano

With Warne Marsh

With Greg Marvin

  • The Greg Marvin Quartet (Hi Hat, Planet X, 1986)
  • I'll Get By (Planet X, 1987)
  • Workout! (Planet X, 1988)
  • Wake-up Call! (Planet X, 1996)
  • Special Edition (Planet X, 2001)

With Carmen McRae

  • Carmen Sings Monk (Bluebird, 1988)

With Charles Mingus

With Tete Montoliu

With Mike Nock

  • In Out and Around (featuring Mike Brecker and Al Foster) (1979)

With Oscar Peterson

With Art Pepper

With Michel Petrucciani & Stephane Grappelli

With Quest

  • Quest (Trio/Palo Alto, 1981)

With Jimmy Raney

With John Scofield

With Zoot Sims

With The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

With McCoy Tyner

With Mal Waldron

With Larry Willis

References

  1. [1]
    "Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Murió George Mraz, un contrabajista exquisito que tocó con los grandes artistas de la escena del jazz" (in Spanish). Clarin. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  3. [3]
    "Quest Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. [4]
    Genzlinger, Neil (2021-09-25). "George Mraz, Consummate Jazz Bassist, Dies at 77". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  5. [5]
    "Dreaming of Your Love - Fred Lipsius | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Heart Beats - Keystone Trio | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Newklear Music - Keystone Trio | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
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