jazzbo Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 Marty Grosz is a master of the guitar! But probably more importantly, he's a great entertainer and singer and repository of good old good 'uns. I'm really just grooving away to his stuff lately. I know that Harold Z is a big fan because he has fanned my ardour. . . . I love his singing, I love the arranging, I love the guitar playing that brings echoes of Lang and Green. . . . A great bandleader with killer regular sidemen as well. . . . Quote
Harold_Z Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 YEAH! I love Marty's records. They swing..they're happy... they're entertaining They're GOOD MUSIC! Marty's guitar playing is everything Lon said and is an all too rare example of the beauty and groove of acoustic guitar. I can't think of one dud among the many Marty cds I've heard and it's great to hear excellently played Swing and Dixieland with the added benefit of modern recording. Quote
Christiern Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 Marty is also very witty--check out some of his liner notes. A few years back, there was a meeting of moldy fig record collectors, somewhere on Long Island. Collectors are an odd breed and one of them approached Marty Grosz, all excited. "Guess what," he told Marty, "I recently saw you in a film-it was great to see you!" Speaking with considerably less excitement in his voice, Marty replied, "But I'm here, in person--isn't that better?" Quote
jazzbo Posted March 17, 2004 Author Report Posted March 17, 2004 Yes, he's very funny and witty, he both sings and seems to have the quippy manner of a Fats Waller. If I'm remembering correctly Marty came to America as a young person from Germany. Quote
jazzbo Posted March 17, 2004 Author Report Posted March 17, 2004 (edited) Just the title alone of this one clues you in to his sense of humor. . . . Songs I learned at My Mother's Knees and Other Low Joints Edited March 17, 2004 by jazzbo Quote
jazzman4133 Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 A long time ago we saw Marty at one of Dick Hyman's jazz productions at the 92nd St. "Y" in NYC. When the curtain was about to open for the second half of the concert, Marty stepped out (just him) with a stool and a full length mirror. For a minute or so he stared into the mirror and primped and preened himself, he then picked up his guitar and proceded to sing "Just A Gigolo", first in German and then in English. It was great. If you can get his recording of this (its on CD) be sure to do so. Quote
frank m Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 Marty Grosz is ,as you have cited, one heluva good guitarist. He is also one of the wittiest raconteurs in jazz. I've seen him countless times reduce an audience to helpless laughter with one of his stories. Saw him once at a more or less mainstream concert when at the beginning of the concert-looked out at the audience and said "This looks like the centerfold from the AARP magazine" Unfortunately for jazz, this was true. BTW he is the son of the great cartoonist,artist and satirist George Grosz. I don't know the details but I do know he was born in Germany. His father was on Hitler's shitlist for his anti-nazi drawings, but apparently got out with his family before it was too late. He's made a lot of records with some of the best young jazz mainstream musicians in NY.Lately now they're on Arbors or Stomp off records and he's to be found mainly at jazz festivals around the country. Quote
Big Al Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 Well, Lon, your posting of the Left to His Own Devices cover on the "Listening To" thread got me curious, and now after some AMG investigating and Rhapsody listening, WHERE DO I START??? Will any recording suffice? Are they all good, and just about any title will do? Are there any to stay away from, or at the very least put off until I've heard other more worthy titles? Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2008 Author Report Posted October 9, 2008 I would say for the pure Grosz experience, get either "Songs I Learned at My Mother's Knee and Other Low Joints" or "Left to his Own Devices". . . both are great. You really can't go wrong, but he's really strong on these two. Quote
Christiern Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 (edited) This just in ... Edited October 9, 2008 by Christiern Quote
Big Al Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 Thanks guys. Will keep a look out. Thru Rhapsody, I listened to Marty Grosz and His Hot Combination, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Loved his vocals, too. This guy is definitely one I'm gonna check out in more detail! Quote
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