Dave Grusin Albums (36)
'The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.'
Release Date 11/4/2008
Tracks 12
Label Varese Fontana
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What The Critics Say
The careers of these two jazz legends have diverged wildly since they celebrated a lifetime of friendship and collaborations with their critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated classical excursion Two Worlds in 2000. While Ritenour has kept up a busy recording pace with gems like Smoke 'N' Mirrors and his all-star tribute productions A Twist of Marley and A Twist of Motown, Grusin was largely MIA from the original recording realm, popping up only briefly in 2004 with Now Playing: Movie Themes -- Solo Piano, featuring acoustic interpretations of his best film score pieces. No doubt Grusin's fans would still love a return to the pop/jazz realm, but there's no shortage of brilliance from either performer on their classical sequel Amparo, a worthy follow-up to the first project. On the original, they took a very traditional approach, exploring the works of Bach, Bartók, and Villa-Lobos, among others, but on Amparo, the greatest surprise is the wider ranging multi-culturalism. Grusin himself composed the hypnotic opening suite of "Three Latin American Dances," which roll from a spritely "Tango en Parque Central" to percussive and dramatic swings through "Danzon de Etiqueta" and "Joropo Peligroso." The lone holdover guest from the first project is opera great Renée Fleming, whose wordless transcendence blends magically with violinist Joshua Bell on a dreamy Gabriel Fauré piece. The duo then goes folky to pleasing effect on the graceful, charmingly lyrical and orchestra enhanced "English Folk Song Suite," which they cap with "Since I First Saw Your Face," a bright slice of 17th century English romance delivered sweetly by guest vocalist James Taylor. Before returning to tradition via the rich string arrangement on Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite," Grusin and Ritenour lovingly recall their mid-'80s Brazilian-influenced jazz project Harlequin by tapping into Jobim's passionate "Olha Maria (Amparo)" with the sweetening of Bell's violin. The thoughtful Rit original "Echos" is followed by two wonderful showcases for one of the 2000s most popular trumpeters, Chris Botti, who is perfectly at home bringing beauty and brilliance to "Adagio in G Minor" and Handel's lively "Rinaldo, Duetto," which he performs as a cheery, then pensive, then happy again narrative duet with Fleming's world-renowned vocal prowess. The sheer artistry of Amparo will make fans of all of the artists involved hope that the dynamic duo won't wait till 2016 before enchanting them again with this kind of welcome excursion. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'The Yakuza'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 23
Label Film Score Monthly
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What The Critics Say
David Grusin's score for Sidney Pollack's The Yakuza (1975) (starring Robert Mitchum) is a strangely compelling and seductive amalgam of Eastern and Western musical influences, laced with mystery and passion and an immense lyricism. The movie, which may have been made too soon -- its Japanese subject matter was too outré for mid-'70s American audiences to absorb easily -- was never hugely successful and the release of this CD, which comes complete with unused sections of the score (recorded but dropped from the final edit of the movie) and variant takes of some key sections, is almost miraculous in that context; no one thought that much of the music at the time it was new. The score benefits greatly from the contributions of top session players, including Lee Ritenour's electric guitar and Jerome Richardson's bass flute, but it is mostly Grusin's ability to shift between and also to meld the sounds of East and West that make this work as well as it does, and the source material has held up across three decades -- the timbres and textures of the music here are very close and rich, and the CD is exceptionally successful for a body of music that was never necessarily supposed to be heard fully exposed in this way. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
'Now Playing: Movie Themes - Solo Piano'
Release Date 7/13/2004
Tracks 15
Label GRP
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What The Critics Say
Although Dave Grusin -- the G in GRP Records -- is quite capable of playing straight-ahead jazz on the piano, his skills as a pianist have often taken a back seat to his work as a record executive, composer for films and television, producer, and A&R man. But Grusin has never quit being a soloist -- it's just that he has devoted so much of his time to other activities -- and on Now Playing: Movie Themes, he has plenty of room to stretch out on the acoustic piano. Actually, Grusin is the only musician on this CD, which favors unaccompanied solo piano. Grusin was 68 when he recorded Now Playing in February 2003, and the disc finds him revisiting a variety of melodies he composed for movies over the years. Those who remember Grusin's hard bop activities of the '60s might hear "solo piano" and hope for some straight-ahead jazz, but Now Playing is best described as an album of pop-jazz and instrumental pop with classical overtones -- and while this release is hardly a jazz purist's fantasy session, it isn't total fluff either. None of these movie melodies go back to the black-and-white era; Grusin didn't get into film scoring until 1967, and the CD's oldest offering is the theme from 1968's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. A few of the tunes are from '70s movies (including Heaven Can Wait and Letting Go), but the decades that receive the most attention are the '80s and '90s -- and Grusin revisits familiar melodies that were heard in films ranging from 1982's Tootsie to 1999's Random Hearts. Now Playing won't go down in history as Grusin's most essential release, but it's a pleasant, likable way for him to look back on his many years of film scoring. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Dinner with Friends'
Release Date 8/7/2001
Tracks 25
Label Jellybean
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What The Critics Say
Forging a unique creative relationship, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin's mutual professional history extends back some two decades. Ritenour was a core artist on Grusin's label, GRP, throughout the 1980s and early '90s; in 1986, they first collaborated on the Grammy Award winning Harlequin, a critically-acclaimed, Brazilian-themed recording. Ritenour also appeared on many of the pianist/composer's film scores and solo recordings, and the two jammed together on GRP Super Live in 1987. Two Worlds, the classical-oriented labor of love that reunites the two legends, is more than simply a beautiful creative departure from their usual jazz-oriented projects. A blend of original compositions and respectful reworkings of timeless classics from Bach, Bartok, Villalobos, Mompov, and Segovia, the collection -- which features stellar guest performances by opera star Renee Fleming, violinist Gil Shaham, and cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber -- finds Ritenour and Grusin joyously reconnecting with their rich classical roots. Among the highlights are the lush, highly percussive Vivaldi/Bach piece "Bach Concerto, featuring a twenty-piece string section; "Bachianas Aria," a piece from Brazilian composer Villalobos, provides a showcase for opera diva Renee Fleming. As for the original compositions, there's the haunting, melodic "Elegia," which Grusin composed many years ago for his late father, a violinist, featuring Gil Shaham; "Lagrima (Lee's Prelude)," a graceful Ritenour original led by the classical guitar; "River's Song," Grusin's clever medley adaptation of the folk songs "The Water Is Wide" and "Shenandoah," featuring Fleming on vocals and "Canto," an Italian-styled "winter song" which Grusin originally wrote for a Ritenour project in the late '70s. Timeless yet contemporary, Two Worlds is beautiful reunion of these musical soul mates. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Dave Grusin's soundtrack to Random Hearts features 14 new jazz quartet pieces played by Grusin, Terence Blanchard, John Patitucci, and Harvey Mason Sr.. Grusin also collaborates with Nestor Torres and Arturo Sandoval on two Latin jazz tracks, "Playa del Sul" and "Aqui en Miami." Patty Larkin also contributes the single "Good Thing," completing a mature, sophisticated soundtrack. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of West Side Story on Broadway, Dave Grusin revived the score, giving its ten themes fresh arrangements that keep the original melodies in mind but add a stronger dose of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms to the music. For the most rewarding recording of this music since Stan Kenton's powerful renditions of the early 1960s, Grusin utilized an all-star big band with strings. Among the key soloists are trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, Bill Evans (who takes several superlative soprano solos), Michael Brecker on tenor, baritonist Ronnie Cuber and flutist Dave Valentin (who is featured on a purposely cute rendition of "I Feel Pretty") plus the pianist/leader, who clearly loves the music. In addition, one song apiece features vocalists Jonathan Butler ("Maria"), Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada. Although one wishes that the singers were more jazz-oriented (or that the entire date were instrumental), the overall result is a very respectful yet creative reworking of the famous score. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Two for the Road: The Music of Henry Mancini'
Release Date 4/22/1997
Tracks 10
Label GRP
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What The Critics Say
Dave Grusin's tribute to Henry Mancini starts out quite strong, with a few fine examples of Grusin's piano playing (particularly "Peter Gunn" and "Mr. Lucky"). Unfortunately, as the set progresses, the music gets more and more routine and closer to easy listening. Grusin is joined by bassist John Patitucci and drummer Harvey Mason, singer Diana Krall does fine on two lazy ballads, a horn section (including trombonist Andy Martin) is heard on two songs, and the obscure harmonica player Tollak Ollestad (sounding like Toots Thielemans) has a pair of appearances. The use of overdubbed strings on some numbers weighs down the set, and what could have been something special ends up being pleasing but predictable. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
