George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band - First Prize (1989)

This is a particularly fun outing by George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band. Trombonist Ray Anderson's "Fishin' With Gramps" is a crackup and the other material is both complex and full of wit and color. With such soloists as trumpeters Mike Mossman, Franco Ambrosetti, Stanton Davis, and Manfred Schoof; Larry Schneider (on tenor and soprano); Howard Johnson on bass clarinet and tuba; altoist Chris Hunter (who sometimes sounds quite close to David Sanborn); Vinny Golia on baritone; and others, there is plenty of variety and many brilliant moments. George Gruntz's 18-piece group was one of the finest of the period, and this sometimes-eccentric CD is a perfect introduction to his music.