John Graas (March 14, 1917 – April 13, 1962) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

French horn player, composer, and arranger from the 1940s through 1962. He had a short but busy career on the West Coast, and became known as a pioneer of the French horn in jazz.

Music career

Graas was born in

Dubuque Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...

, Iowa, on March 14, 1917. He was educated in

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" al ...

and attended

Tanglewood Music Center The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops. The center operates as a part of the Tanglew ...

, where he performed under the tutelage of

Serge Koussevitsky Sergei Alexandrovich KoussevitzkyKoussevitzky's original Russian forename is usually transliterated into English as either "Sergei" or "Sergey"; however, he himself adopted the French spelling "Serge", using it in his signature. (SeThe Koussevit ...

. He soon became interested in jazz and studied ways to bring jazz and classical music together, an early effort at what would later be called Third Stream music. Following the path of his dual interests, he was a member of the

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is an American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The largest performing arts organization in Indiana, the orchestra is based at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Ci ...

(1941), the Claude Thornhill Orchestra (1942), the Army Air Corps band during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

(1942–1945), the

Cleveland Orchestra The Cleveland Orchestra, based in Cleveland, is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the " Big Five". Founded in 1918 by the pianist and impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Se ...

(1945–1946), the Tex Beneke Orchestra (1946–1949), and the

Stan Kenton Orchestra Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

(1950–1953). The 1950s were a period of intense activity by Graas, as performer, composer, and arranger. Besides groups under his own name, he appeared in the musical aggregations of Shorty Rogers,

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often serv ...

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad'' (1968), ''Batman'' (with ''Batgirl'' theme ...

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

Mel Lewis Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author. He received fourteen Grammy Award nominations. Biography Early years Lewis was ...

, and others. The 1960s began with equal intensity, including recordings with

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

Bobby Darin Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American musician and actor. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. He started his career as a songwriter for Connie ...

, Heinie Beau, and others, until his career was cut short by his death of a heart attack, at age 45, in the

Van Nuys Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1909, ...

section of Los Angeles.

Discography

As leader

* ''John Graas'' (

Trend A fad or trend is any form of collective behavior that develops within a culture, a generation or social group in which a group of people enthusiastically follow an impulse for a short period. Fads are objects or behaviors that achieve shor ...

, 1953) * ''Jazz Studio 2'' (

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

, 1954) * ''French Horn Jazz'' (Trend, 1954) * ''Jazz Studio 3'' (Decca, 1955) * ''Jazz Lab 1'' (Decca, 1956) * ''Jazz Lab 2'' (Decca, 1957) * ''French Horn Jazz'' (Kapp, 1957) * ''Jazzmantics'' (Lone Hill, 1958) * ''John Graas!'' (Mercury, 1958) * ''International Premiere in Jazz'' (VSOP, 1958) * ''Coup de Graas'' (1959)

As sideman

With

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

* '' Cosmopolite'' (

Norgran Norgran Records was an American jazz record label in Los Angeles founded by Norman Granz in 1953. It became part of Verve Records, which Granz created in 1956. It is the first letters of Granz's full name. Discography 10 inch LP series 12 inch L ...

, 1954) With

* ''

Innovations in Modern Music ''Innovations in Modern Music'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton with his "Innovations" Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1950 and originally released on the Capitol label.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed Apr ...

'' (Capitol, 1950) * '' Stan Kenton Presents'' (Capitol, 1950) * ''

Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton ''Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton'' is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded between 1951 and 1953 and originally released as a 10-inch LP and 45 rpm EP on Capitol before being reissued as a 12 ...

'' (Capitol, 1953) * ''

This Modern World ''This Modern World'' is a weekly satirical comic strip by cartoonist and political commentator Tom Tomorrow (real name Dan Perkins) that covers current events from a left-wing point of view. Published continuously for more than 30 years, ''This ...

'' (Capitol, 1953) * ''

The Kenton Era ''The Kenton Era'' is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring recordings from 1940 to 1954 which was originally released in two limited edition box sets, as fifteen 7 inch 45 rpm discs and four 12 inch LPs, on Capitol i ...

'' (Capitol, 1940–54, 955 With

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

* '' Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet and Quartet'' (GNP, 1953

997 Year 997 ( CMXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 1 February: Empress Teishi gives birth to Princess Shushi - she is the first child of the ...

With Shorty Rogers *''

Modern Sounds ''Modern Sounds'' is the debut album by trumpeter and bandleader Shorty Rogers featuring performances recorded in late 1951 and originally released as a 10-inch LP on the Capitol label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, MCapitol Album Discog ...

'' (Capitol, 1951) * '' Shorty Rogers and His Giants'' (RCA Victor, 1953) * ''

Cool and Crazy ''Cool and Crazy'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers originally released by RCA Victor in 1953 as a 10-inch LP.Shorty Rogers Courts the Count ''Shorty Rogers Courts the Count'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the RCA Victor label in 1954.Martians Come Back! ''Martians Come Back!'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Atlantic label in August 1956.

'' (Atlantic, 1955

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* ''

Way Up There ''Way Up There'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Atlantic label in 1957.957 Year 957 ( CMLVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * September 6 – Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever ne ...

With

* ''

Introducing Pete Rugolo ''Introducing Pete Rugolo'' is an album by bandleader, composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1954 and released on the Columbia label, initially as a 10-inch LP, then with an additional four tracks as a 12- ...

'' (Columbia, 1954) *''

Adventures in Rhythm ''Adventures in Rhythm'' is an album by bandleader, composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1954 and originally released on the Columbia label as a 12-inch LP.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson Discographyaccessed Oct ...

'' (Columbia, 1954) *''

Rugolomania ''Rugolomania'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 and released on the Columbia label.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson Discographyaccessed October 6, 2016Smith, P. GJulius Watkins ...

'' (Columbia, 1955) *''

New Sounds by Pete Rugolo ''New Sounds by Pete Rugolo'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 for Columbia Records and first released on the budget Harmony label in 1957.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson Disco ...

'' (Harmony, 1954–55,

957 Year 957 ( CMLVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * September 6 – Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever ne ...

*'' Percussion at Work'' (EmArcy, 1957)

Notes

References

* Feather, Leonard. ''The Encyclopedia of Jazz'' (Horizon Press, 1960) * Flanagan, John. Liner notes, ''Jack Sheldon: Complete College Goes to Jazz; Featuring John Graas'' (Lone Hill Jazz, 2004) {{DEFAULTSORT:Graas, John American jazz horn players United States Army Air Forces soldiers 1917 births 1962 deaths United States Army personnel of World War II 20th-century American musicians