MEL GRAVES
ABOUT THE ARTIST/BIOGRAPHY
(1946-2008) wrote over one hundred jazz compositions. He maintained long musical associations with Denny Zeitlin, George Marsh and Mose Allison and performed with many jazz greats like Joe Henderson, Odean Pope, Dewey Redman, James Newton, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Larry Coryell, Jerry Hahn, Tom Harrell, Kenny Werner, Steve Smith, Eddie Harris, Roscoe Mitchell, Ray Anderson, Art Lande, Bennie Wallace, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, John Tchicai, Carl Allen and many others. Graves also recorded more than 40 CD and vinyl record projects, some of which include Steve Smith, Eric Crystal, Randy Vincent, Bob Afifi, George Marsh, the Turtle Island String Quartet, Thomas Buckner, Smith Dobson, and Jon Crosse. Back to Artists
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THOMAS BUCKNER, MEL GRAVES & GEORGE MARSH / Homage"This project is the product of over thirty years of musical collaboration and personal friendships. The three of us met in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early seventies and worked together in many contexts, exploring improvisation and new music. When I moved to New York in 1983, there was a brief hiatus, and then, on hearing a composition of Mel Graves played here, I asked him to write me a piece. This led to my premiering many works of his and making several recordings. |
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MEL GRAVES / Ear Shot"Ear Shot is nice music to dig while sipping your favorite beverage on your front steps on a sunny day (or one that deserves to be)." Mark Keresman
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MEL GRAVES / Day of LoveThis album was the culmination of thirty years' worth of Graves' musical exploration. Ostensibly a jazz album, the disc explores lyrical melodies and instrumental interludes for flute and bass, with rhythms influenced by Brazilian, African and Indian styles. Graves, who died in 2008 wrote over one hundred jazz compositions, and others for various projects over the years. His composition teachers were Loren Rush and Robert Erickson. |