George Mraz

Born Jiří Mráz in Pisek, Czechoslovakia on September 9, 1944, George Mraz was a U.S.-based jazz double bassist and alto saxophonist. Although he had a successful career as a leader and solo artist, he is also known for his work as a member of the New York Jazz Quartet and his session work with jazz icons such as John Abercrombie, Bob Brookmeyer, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Art Farmer, Kenny Barron, Benny Carter, Larry Coryell, Art Pepper, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Carmen McRae, McCoy Tyner, and many others. Georg Mraz studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1961 to 1966, where he rubbed shoulders with fellow student and future acclaimed keyboardist Jan Hammer. After a stay in Munich, Germany where he played with Hampton Hawes and other artists, George Mraz relocated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1968 to study at the Berklee College of Music. Settling in New York, he would eventually become an American citizen. After playing with Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald, he joined the Oscar Peterson Trio, then replaced Richard Davis in the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra from 1972 to 1976. His recording career as a leader or co-leader began in the mid-‘70s and he released a series of albums including Alone Together (1977), Catching Up (1992), Jazz (1995), Bottom Lines (1997), Morava (2001), and Together Again with Emil Viklicky (2014). While working on his own recordings and doing session work with many jazz greats, he was also a member of the New York Jazz Quartet (1975-1981) and of the Quest trio (1981). George Mraz died in New York on September 16, 2021, at the age of 77.

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