GEORGE GRUNTZ

Born in Basle, Switzerland in 1932 he began his career as member of the Newport International Band at the Newport festival in 1958. During the sixties Gruntz toured throughout Europe as keyboarder for such as Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker, ohnny Griffin, Art Farmer. In 1968 and 69 he worked and recorded with Phil Woods European Rhythm Machine. 1973 The World Jazz Opera commissoned by the Paris State Opera - a collaboration with poet Amiri Baraka, several works of a similar scope followed. From 1970 to 1984 Gruntz was the musical director of the Zurich State Theatre and from 1972 to 1994 the artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Festival.

The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band (GGCJB) was founded by George Gruntz, Flavio and Franco Ambrosetti, Daniel Humair and manager Gérard Lüll in 1972. Over the course of the years the cream of modern jazz musicians played the compositions of GG in this unique orchestra (Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Bennie Wallace, Lee Konitz, John Scofield and many more) touring the globe. The GGCJB was the first large jazz orchestra to tour China with great acclaim in 1992 appearing in Bejing, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong.