Search - Jack Sheldon, John Graas :: College Goes to Jazz

Really a John Graas album

Ralph Geiger | Washington, DC | 01/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's unclear why this CD is credited to Jack Sheldon, seeing as he appears on only 3 of the 22 tracks."

John Graas plays big part in this CD

Susan McKeever | Kenosha, WI USA | 10/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Graas coached the quintet at the Westlake College of Music who play on the first half of this CD, besides arranging or composing all the music. The second half of this CD is tremendous, a reissue of John's LP "French Horn Jazz". This is definitely worth considering."

Good rare West Coast jazz

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 06/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is an interesting compilation of three different LP items: the Westlake College Quartet's 1956 Decca release (their only recordings); John Graas's first album, a 10-inch Trend LP made in 1953; and another Graas album from 1958 on the Andex label. My favorite sides come from the Westlake album, featuring Luther McDonald on valve trombone and Sam Firmature on tenor - players that never became household names in the jazz community. Firmature is a particularly fine performer, with a warm sound and lyrical approach. He stays close to the middle and lower registers and is just a pleasure to listen to. Graas arranged and wrote a number of the tunes; WESTLAKE BOUNCE, GHOST TALK, and MOTIF are especially good. Drummer Fred Taggart's delicate brush work on the last two, which are taken up tempo, is superb. McDonald is a good v-trombonist, though no Bob Brookmeyer.



The Grass septet sides from 1953 have excellent moments from Shorty Rogers (tp) Bud Shank (as) and Bob Cooper (ts), though their solo time is limited by the nature of the compositions and the predominance of Grass solos on French horn. That axe is a difficult one to wield, and Grass is crisper here than on other recordings. Cooper takes a very nice solo on ARGYLES, and everyone gets a taste on the up-tempo swinger NOT EXACTLY.



JAZZ CHACONNE Nos. 1-3, from 1958, are so-so, very classical in nature with interspersed sections of all out jazz improvisation. No. 3 is quite pretty.



There is some good swinging West Coast-flavored jazz on this CD - heady stuff if somewhat lacking in fire from the gut. Fans of the music should be delighted; collectors will also be: this is pretty rare stuff seeing the light of day again.

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