John Graas

Alongside Julius Watkins, John Graas was among the 1st jazz French horn soloists. After playing some traditional music, in 1942 he joined up with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. An interval in the Military (1942-1945) and stints using the Cleveland Orchestra and Tex Beneke’s big music group preceded Graas’ 1st high-profile gig, using Stan Kenton’s Improvements Orchestra (1950-1951). After departing Kenton, he resolved in LA and worked like a studio room musician not only is it used on Western Coast jazz times by Shorty Rogers among others. Graas, a fantastic composer who wanted to combine collectively jazz and traditional music (predating the 3rd stream motion), recorded pretty regularly like a innovator during 1953-1958, classes that (apart from one V.S.O.P. launch) haven’t been reissued. He passed away of a coronary attack at age 45.