John Graas Nonet - Jazzmantics (1956-57 Decca, Emarcy, Kapp_ LoneHill) (John Graas Project vol.5)

With this CD I begin to post John Graas Project's complete series (6 CD'S) released by LoneHill


This CD include lp's :
-Jazzmantics (Decca 1957) (01-10)
-Coup de Graas (Emarcy 1957) (11-18)
-1 track from 'French Horn Jazz' EP (four tracks) (1956 Kapp ) . Not confuse with French Horn Jazz (1953 Trend LP) !!


1 Midnight Sun
2 Petite Poem
3 Jazz Overture
4 Jazz Chorale

5 Will Success Spoil Rock N' Roll?
6 You and the Night and the Music
7 Inch Worm
8 Flip-Tip
9 I.D.
10 Let's Fall in Love
11 Van Nuys Indeed
12 Development
13 Land of Broken Toys
14 Swing Nicely
15 Walkin' Shoes
16 Blues Street
17 Rogeresque
18 Block Sounds
19 Cordova

Review

by Scott Yanow

As part of Lone Hill Jazz's John Graas project, this CD reissues all of the music originally out on the LPs Jazzmantics and Coup de Graas, plus a leftover track from French Horn Jazz. Graas, one of the top jazz French horn players of the 1950s, was also a talented third stream arranger and composer. On these albums he is heard leading groups ranging from a quintet to a tentet, with Art Pepper often being well featured. The music ranges from swinging, cool-toned hard bop to adventurous selections that hint strongly at classical music. In addition to Pepper, key soloists include trumpeter Conte Candoli, tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper, and altoist Herb Geller with Red Callender having a prominent role on tuba. The formerly rare music from 1957 (with the French Horn jazz selection dating from the previous year) is well-worth discovering for it was overshadowed and somewhat overlooked even when it was released a half-century ago.

Credits (click to enlarge image)