Personnel:
Fred Katz (cello, conductor), Paul Horn (as, fl, cl), John Pisano (g), Carson Smith (b), Joe Howard, Herbie Harper, Dick Noel (tb), Harry Klee (fl), Marty Berman (bassoon), Willy Schwartz (cl), Julie Jacobs (oboe)
Reference: FSRCD 521
Bar code: 8427328605212
Fred Katz was a concert cellist who found recognition through Chico Hamiltons quintet, and full-blown, open-minded freedom from his jazz transfusion. Katz's work in Zen is indicative of his immersion in jazz, without the sacrifice of classical background and desires. They indicate his intense interest and the broad concepts he brought to bear on creating modern music.
The CD ends with the quintet performing Concerto of Jazz Themes, an extended improvisation of several of their own themes composed for the soundtrack of the movie Sweet Smell of Success. The resulting music is a beautifully integrated composition conceived in free concerto form, which allows each of the individuals in the group great freedom for expression in the groups atonal and polytonal framework.
