Count off: Vanguard Max
by Art Pepper
about
In 1977, Art was making his debut at the Village Vanguard. The band included George Cables, Elvin Jones, and a young bass player who went on to many triumphs and acclaim. But on the first night, Elvin said the bass player was too green. So at about 3 AM we needed a bass player who could read the charts from the minute to start recording at the Vanguard that night. The bartender suggested George Mraz. We called him right then and asked if he could come to a rehearsal that day and start recording that night. He said yes. This rest is the insane and wonderful Vanguard recordings. George read some pretty complicated charts at sight and played like an angel.
In 1980, ’81, George Mraz was able to join Art for a few days at Fat Tuesday’s. On one night he got pretty drunk. After the set Art told me George was half a tone off during one entire tune. Art said, awed, “but he played the whole thing perfectly.”
One night at Fat Tuesday’s, maybe the same night, as we all stood in the snow after the gig, George presented me with a flower and I fell in love with him.
He also said funny things and made me laugh. He was a genius. He was beautiful. Art loved him. And thank God we found him for the Vanguard session.
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Art Pepper Los Angeles, California
Born in 1925 in Gardena, CA, and raised in San Pedro, CA. Incredible life can't be summarized here! Read all about it in STRAIGHT LIFE at Amazon. Read what it was like being married to him in ART: Why I Stuck with a Junkie Jazzman. Amazon ditto.
discography
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Sep 2021 -
Sep 2021 -
Sep 2021 -
Jan 2021
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