Marty Grosz


Martin Oliver Grosz is a German-born American jazz guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and composer born in Berlin, Germany, the son of artist George Grosz. He performed with Bob Wilber and wrote arrangements for him. He has also worked with Kenny Davern, Dick Sudhalter, and Keith Ingham.
Marty Grosz is influenced by the Jazz guitarists of the 1930s, particularly Carl Kress, and uses a lower Banjo derived tuning for his guitar similar to that used by Kress. This produces a much more robust sound for both rhythm playing and chord solo breaks.
Grosz is also known as a witty raconteur often introducing songs with long amusing anecdotes.

Career

Grosz was born in Berlin, Germany, but became resident in the United States by the age of three. In Chicago during the 1950s, Grosz recorded with Dave Remington and Art Hodes. In the 1970s, he was a vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Soprano Summit In the 1980s, he was a member of the Classic Jazz Quartet with Dick Wellstood. He played, sang, and wrote most of the group's arrangements. He has also performed at concerts with Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, and Charlie Byrd.

Discography

As leader

Hooray for Bix! The End of Innocence with Ephie Resnick Let Your Fingers Do the Walking with Wayne Wright Take Me to the Land of Jazz with Dick Wellstood Goody Goody with Wayne Wright I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music The Classic Jazz Quartet MCMLXXXVI with the Classic Jazz Quartet Marty Grosz and the Keepers of the Flame Sings of Love and Other Matters Swing It! Extra Laughing at Life Unsaturated Fats with Keith Ingham Donaldson Redux with Keith Ingham Songs I Learned at My Mothers Knee and Other Low Joints Ring Dem Bells Just Imagine with Keith Ingham Thanks Just for Fun! Going Hollywood with Keith Ingham Rhythm for Sale At Bob Barnard's Jazz Party 1999 Left to His Own Devices Rhythm Is Our Business Stringin' the Blues: A Tribute to Eddie Lang with Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Howard Alden, Al Viola Chasin' the Spots Acoustic Heat with Mike Peters Marty Grosz and His Hot Combination The James P. Johnson Songbook
  • ''Keep a Song in Your Soul''

As sideman or guest

With Randy Sandke and the New York All StarsStampede Play Jazz Favorites The Bix Beiderbecke Era Randy Sandke Meets Bix Beiderbecke
With Soprano SummitSoprano Summit in Concert Chalumeau Blue Soprano Summit Live at the Big Horn Jazzfest Crazy Rhythm Live at Concord '77 Soprano Summit Recorded Live at Illiana Jazz Club, November 7, 1978 1975...and More!
With others