George Gruntz
George Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with Phil Woods, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, and Mel Lewis. Gruntz, who was born in Basel, Switzerland, was also an accomplished arranger and composer, having been commissioned by many orchestras and symphonies. From 1972 to 1994, he served as artistic director of JazzFest Berlin. He died at the age of 80 in January 2013. Discography As leader/co-leader Main sources: Compilations Sins'n Wins'n Funs – Left-cores and Hard-core En-cores, 1981–1990 (Compilation, released 1996) The MPS Years, 1972–1981 (Compilation, released 1996) Renaissance Man a.k.a. 30 + 70: The One Hundred Years of George Gruntz, 1961–2000 (Compilation, released 2002) As sideman With Franco Ambrosetti Close Encounter (Enja, 1979) See also List of experimental big bands References External links Homepage with biography and extensive discography. Retrieved November 12, 2012 George Gruntz page at Enja Records site George Gruntz Phonography at Swiss National Sound Archives 1932 births 2013 deaths Enja Records artists Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Musicians from Basel-Stadt Post-bop pianists Progressive big band musicians Swiss jazz pianists 20th-century pianists