Jazz
Claus Ogerman - Adaptation, Annotation, Arranger, Assistant, Choir, Chorus, Conductor, Orchestra, Piano, Producer, Strings
Abe Kessler - Cello
Al Schmitt - Engineer
Alan Pasqua - Keyboards
Albert Richmond - French Horn
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Guitar, Piano
Arnie Lawrence - Clarinet, Saxophone
Arnold Eidus - Violin
Arthur Jenkins - Percussion
Bernard Eichen - Violin
Bernie Glow - Trumpet
Bill Evans - Piano
Bill Miller - Piano
Bob McCoy - Trumpet
Bobby Durham - Drums
Brooks Tillotson - French Horn
Brunner-Schwer, - Producer
Bryan Koniarz - Project Assistant
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar
Buddy Collette - Sax (Tenor)
Buddy Morrow - Trombone
Charles Finley - Trumpet
Charles McCracken - Cello
Chester Thompson - Drums
Chick Corea - Keyboards, Moog Synthesizer
Chino Valdez - Percussion
Christian McBride - Bass
Chuck Domanico - Bass
Chuck Israels - Bass
Colin Bailey - Drums
Creed Taylor - Producer
Danny Bank - Clarinet, Saxophone
Dave Carey - Percussion
David Nadien - Concert Master
David Sanborn - Sax (Alto), Soloist
Dean Parks - Guitar (Rhythm)
Denise Koleda - Design
Diana Krall - Piano, Vocals
Dick Hyde - Trombone
Don Hammond - Flute
Donald MacCourt - Bassoon
Doug Allen - Percussion
Dr. John - Piano, Vocals
Earl Chapin - French Horn
Earl Slapin - Flute
Eddie Daniels - Clarinet, Saxophone
Eddie Gomez - Bass
Emanuel Green - Violin
Enoch Light - Producer
Ernie Watts - Sax (Tenor)
Esmond Edwards - Producer
Frank Sinatra - Vocals
Frank Wess - Clarinet, Saxophone
Freddie Hubbard - Flugelhorn, Producer, Soloist, Trumpet
Friedemann Engelbrecht - Producer
Garnett Brown - Trombone
Gene Lees - Liner Notes
Gene Orloff - Violin
George Benson - Guitar, Soloist
George Devens - Percussion
George Duvivier - Bass
George Marge - Oboe
George Ricci - Cello
George Young - Clarinet, Saxophone
Gidon Kremer - Violin
Grady Tate - Drums
Guy Lumia - Concert Master
Hank Jones - Celeste, Piano
Harry Lookofsky - Concert Master, Violin
Harvey Estrin - Sax (Alto)
Harvey Shapiro - Cello
Helen Keane - Producer
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Hollis King - Art Direction
Howard "Buzz" Feiten - Guitar
Hubert Laws - Flute
Hugh McCracken - Guitar, Producer
Israel Baker - Concert Master
James Buffington - French Horn
Jerry Dodgion - Sax (Alto)
Jerry Hey - Flugelhorn
Jim Hall - Guitar
Jimmy Cleveland - Trombone
Joe Farrell - Sax (Tenor)
Joe Sample - Piano (Electric), Soloist
John Frosk - Trumpet
John Guerin - Drums
John Tropea - Guitar
Jon Mark - Guitar, Vocals
Joseph Malin - Violin
Julius Held - Violin
Ken Druker - Supervisor
Kenny Burrell - Guitar
Kiyoski Itoh - Producer
Larry Bunker - Percussion
Leo Wright - Flute
Leon Pendarvis - Piano
Marcus Miller - Bass
Marilyn Schmiege - Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal), Vocals
Marky Markowitz - Trumpet
Marty Morell - Drums
Marvin Stamm - Trumpet
Mel Davis - Trumpet
Michael Brecker - Sax (Tenor)
Milt Hinton - Bass
Oleg Maisenberg - Piano
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet
Oscar Peterson - Piano
Paul Faulise - Trombone
Paul Gershman - Violin
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Pete Gordon - French Horn
Peter Erskine - Drums
Peter Maunu - Guitar (Rhythm)
Phil Bodner - Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone
Phil Ranelin - Trombone
Phil Teele - Trombone
Phil Woods - Sax (Alto)
Ralph Grierson - Organ, Piano
Ralph MacDonald - Percussion
Ralph Pena - Bass
Randy Brecker - Trumpet
Ray Alonge - French Horn
Ray Barretto - Conga
Richard Anthony Davis - Bass
Richard Davis - Bass
Richard Tee - Keyboards
Robert Noble - Piano, Soloist
Robin Ford - Guitar, Soloist
Ron Carter - Bass
Russell Malone - Guitar
Sam Jones - Guitar
Snooky Young - Trumpet
Sonny Burke - Producer
Sonny Russo - Trombone
Stan Getz - Sax (Tenor)
Stanley Clarke - Bass
Steve Gadd - Drums
Steve Madaio - Trumpet
Titus Lancer - Producer
Tom Scott - Sax (Tenor)
Tommy LiPuma - Producer
Tommy Mitchell - Trombone
Tony Mottola - Guitar
Ulrich Kraus - Mastering
Urbie Green - Trombone
Victor Paz - Trumpet
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Wally Kane - Bassoon
Walter Levinsky - Sax (Alto)
Warren Bernhardt - Piano
Wayne Andre - Trombone
Wes Montgomery - Guitar
Will Lee - Bass
Yasohachi "88" Itoh - Producer
There are plenty of jazz fans who can't stand the lush and lazy sentimentality of arranger Claus Ogerman. They think he's ruined it for every artist he's worked with -- Frank Sinatra and Diana Krall to name two -- but they always seem to ignore that he was an integral part of at least one accepted classic, Antonio Carlos Jobim's Wave. He's also been responsible for a lot of cheese -- this or that orchestra plays the "hits of Italy" type albums -- and his work for Andre Kostelanetz doesn't put him in a class with respected arrangers like Ellington or George Russell, and it isn't worth hearing anyway. That's why the well-picked American edition of Man and His Music beats the four-disc Man Behind the Music, released by the German Verve imprint Boutique (it also steals the too-big box's liner notes, which are insightful and mostly from the man himself). On the German release, you had to suffer a horribly suave cover photo of Claus with a '70s suit and European cigarette -- held by the tippy-tip, of course -- but you also had to suffer too much Streisand, Michael Franks, and Ogerman's own Gate of Dreams album. Since this is a Verve-proper release, there are plenty of Verve's artists represented, which is fine, since it's with this label that Ogerman did his best work. Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, and Wes Montgomery all succumb willingly to Ogerman's sentimental aesthetic, one that's not really syrupy but is entirely formulaic. That's why it's up to the revolving door of guests to keep things interesting, and why three Michael Brecker tracks are one too many (especially when they could have included the great GetzOgerman version of "Moonlight in Vermont"). A taste of Freddie Hubbard's overly dated recordings with the arranger are, at the very least, time capsule interesting and Diana Krall's "I Should Care" is a superb closer. The KrallOgerman album Look of Love got whacked by the critics, but after a two-disc history lesson in the world of Ogerman, it's possible to guess why the chanteuse turned to the arranger. Ogerman makes fantastic mood albums, ones for rainy, sad days that are both wistful and warm. If you can relate a bittersweet breakup in Krall's life to the recording date of her Ogerman album, there you go. As far as the man himself, he's limited, but Man and His Music respects what he has to offer and represents his talent splendidly.
---David Jeffries, All Music Guide
Claus Ogerman
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Apr 29, 1930 in Raciborz, Poland
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Crossover Jazz, Post-Bop
Arranger takes sounds of nature and the city to form orchestral vehicles for soloists like Michael Brecker.
--- Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide |
