George Mraz

A rare Japanese-only album - one that presents familiar songs from Porgy & Bess, but delivered in a completely sublime setting - just the bass of George Mraz and the piano of Roland Hanna - opening up with a sense of flow that really transforms each tune into a very special creative moment! Mraz is at his best here - with that round yet sharp tone that makes some of his 70s performances so wonderful - and Hanna complements his playing beautifully with his own balance of force and lyricism - maybe more sometimes on the left hand than usual, but also never slavishly tied to rhythm - just carrying a bit more of the sound without the drums.

This 1993 recording is a follow-up to an earlier duo session by Andy LaVerne and John Abercrombie, although they add bassist George Mraz and drummer Adam Nussbaum for this date. Following a rather upbeat, introspective arrangement of the standard "Beautiful Love," they stick to originals by either the pianist or the guitarist. LaVerne's "Mother of Pearl" is a shimmering post-bop work that is full of surprises, while "Opal" is a treasure of a different sort, prominently featuring Abercrombie's brittle-sounding electric guitar. Abercrombie's "Monk Like" has a quirky line much like its namesake might employ, and the unpredictable ballad "Farewell" serves as an appropriate conclusion to this enjoyable CD.

Let's face it: so many, perhaps too many, piano trio jazz CDs are released every month, and it's not every day when you find something special. But this CD - originally released in the Czech Republic and became a huge hit in Japan - has that special quality, the one that lets you know that it's a good record within the first 10 seconds. Pianist Jan Knop (b. 1972), who began to spell his name backwards as Najponk, is one of the greatest stars of his generation. He was connected to George Mraz (b. 1944), the most famous Czech bassist in the world, through drummer and jazz impressario Martin Sulc (b. 1961). The representatives of three different generations are connected by the strong unifying force of the post-bop mainstream…

Masaru Imada and George Mraz - Alone Together (1977) {XRCD Three Blind Mice TBM XR-5003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 208 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 208 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 1997 Three Blind Mice / JVC Victor | TBM XR-5003 | 20bit K2
Jazz / Post Bop / Contemporary Jazz / Piano / Bass

The wonderful communication between these instruments produces an intimate and expressive masterpiece. Also included in this cut, Stella by Starlight! The XRCD is from the very rare JVC // TBM Recordings series of out of print, audiophile CDs. Extended Resolution - 20-bit Digital Technology, K2 Super Coding.

All too often, piano trios feature the pianist extensively, with bassist and drummer relegated to supporting roles and occasional brief solos. That's hardly the case with this studio session, as even though the trio is billed under the names of David Hazeltine and George Mraz, with Billy Drummond, the date comes off like a working partnership with everyone getting lots of space to play. Hazeltine has been a workhorse in New York City, recording a number of CDs for various labels and frequently appearing as a sideman, while Mraz is one of the top bassists to emerge during the late '60s. Likewise, Drummond has himself been a very in-demand player. The interaction between the musicians is superb throughout the date, with fresh treatments of chestnuts like "Out of This World" and "Alone Together" that swing like mad.