Claus Ogerman: Difference between revisions
Tassedethe (talk | contribs) m v2.02 - Repaired 1 link to disambiguation page - (You can help) - Symbiosis (album) |
|||
(40 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|German arranger, conductor, and composer}} |
|||
{{Multiple issues| |
{{Multiple issues| |
||
{{One source|date=December 2018}} |
{{One source|date=December 2018}} |
||
{{More footnotes|date=December 2018}}}} |
{{More footnotes needed|date=December 2018}}}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} |
||
{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
||
| name |
| name = Claus Ogerman |
||
| image |
| image = Claus Ogerman.jpg |
||
⚫ | |||
| background = non_performing_personnel |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| death_place = |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| label = [[United Artists Records|United Artists]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], [[Decca Records|Decca]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| label = |
|||
⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Claus Ogerman''' (born '''Klaus Ogermann'''; 29 April 1930 – 8 March 2016) was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with [[Billie Holiday]], [[Antonio Carlos Jobim]], [[Frank Sinatra]], and [[Diana Krall]]. |
'''Claus Ogerman''' (born '''Klaus Ogermann'''; 29 April 1930 – 8 March 2016) was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with [[Billie Holiday]], [[Antonio Carlos Jobim]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Bill Evans]], [[Michael Brecker]], and [[Diana Krall]]. |
||
==Life and work== |
==Life and work== |
||
Born in [[Racibórz|Ratibor (Racibórz)]], [[Province of Upper Silesia|Upper Silesia]], [[Weimar Germany|Germany]] (now part of [[Poland]]), Ogerman began his career with the [[piano]]. He was one of the most prolific 20th century arrangers and has worked in the [[top 40]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Popular music|pop]], [[jazz]], [[R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[easy listening]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and [[classical music]] fields. The exact number of recording artists for whom Ogerman has either arranged or conducted during his career has never been determined.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} |
Born in [[Racibórz|Ratibor (Racibórz)]], [[Province of Upper Silesia|Upper Silesia]], [[Weimar Germany|Germany]] (now part of [[Poland]]), Ogerman began his career with the [[piano]]. He was one of the most prolific 20th century arrangers and has worked in the [[top 40]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Popular music|pop]], [[jazz]], [[R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[easy listening]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and [[classical music]] fields. The exact number of recording artists for whom Ogerman has either arranged or conducted during his career has never been determined.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} |
||
In the 1950s, Ogerman worked in Germany as an arranger-pianist with [[Kurt Edelhagen]], [[Max Greger]], and [[Delle Haensch]]. Claus (then Klaus) also worked as a part-time vocalist and recorded several 45 |
In the 1950s, Ogerman worked in Germany as an arranger-pianist with [[Kurt Edelhagen]], saxophonist and bandleader [[Max Greger]], and [[Delle Haensch]]. Claus (then Klaus) also worked as a part-time vocalist and recorded several 45 rpm singles under the pen name of "Tom Collins", duetting with [[Hannelore Cremer]]; he also recorded a solo vocal with the Delle Haensch Jump Combo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus-Decca45-3.html#D_18_959|title=The Work of Claus Ogerman|publisher=Bjbear71.com|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref> |
||
In 1959, |
In 1959, Ogerman moved to the United States and joined the producer [[Creed Taylor]] at [[Verve Records]], working on recordings with many artists, including [[Antonio Carlos Jobim]], [[Bill Evans]], [[Wes Montgomery]], [[Kai Winding]], and [[Cal Tjader]]. Verve was sold to [[MGM]] in 1963. Ogerman, by his own reckoning in Gene Lees' ''Jazzletter'' publication, arranged some 60-70 albums for Verve under Creed Taylor's direction from 1963 to 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus-news.html|title=The Work of Claus Ogerman|publisher=Bjbear71.com|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref> |
||
During this time he also arranged |
During this time he also arranged many pop hits, including [[Solomon Burke]]'s "[[Cry To Me]]", and [[Lesley Gore]]'s "[[It's My Party (Lesley Gore song)|It's My Party]]", "[[Judy's Turn to Cry]]", "[[She's a Fool]]", and "[[Maybe I Know]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus-Mercury45.html|title=The Work of Claus Ogerman|website=Bjbear71.com|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> In 1966, Ogerman arranged and conducted ''[[Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra]]'' (Verve Records). In 1967, he joined Creed Taylor on the [[A&M records|A&M]]/CTi label. Ogerman charted under his own name in 1965. The [[RCA records|RCA]] single "Watusi Trumpets" reached #130 in the Music Vendor charts.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} |
||
⚫ | He arranged and conducted the orchestra on [[George Benson]]'s 1976 album, ''[[Breezin']]'', as well as on two other Benson albums. Ogerman won the [[1980 Grammy Award]] for Best Instrumental Arrangement for George Benson's "[[Soulful Strut]]" and the [[2010 Grammy Award]] for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for "Quiet Nights". Among Ogerman's most remarkable albums are: ''Gate Of Dreams'' (WB, 1977), from the music of the ballet ''Some Times''; ''[[Cityscape (Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker album)|Cityscape]]'' with [[Michael Brecker]] (Warner/Pioneer, 1982); and ''Claus Ogerman Featuring Michael Brecker'' (GRP, 1991), all of which include original compositions centered on the juxtaposition of jazz instruments and rhythm sections with classical music orchestra.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | Ogerman arranged and conducted [[Diana Krall| Diana Krall's]] 2001 album ''[[The Look of Love (Diana Krall album)|The Look of Love]]'', and conducted parts of her ''Live in Paris'' performance recorded on DVD. He also served as arranger and conductor for Krall's 2009 album ''[[Quiet Nights (Diana Krall album)|Quiet Nights]]''. |
||
⚫ | |||
==Classical compositions== |
==Classical compositions== |
||
Ogerman |
From the 1970s, Ogerman devoted himself almost exclusively to composing. His commissions included a ballet score for the [[American Ballet Theatre]], ''Some Times''; a work for [[Bill Evans]] for jazz piano and orchestra, ''[[Symbiosis (Bill Evans album)|Symbiosis]]''; a work for [[Michael Brecker]] for saxophone and orchestra, ''Cityscape''; a song cycle, ''Tagore-Lieder'', after poems by [[Rabindranath Tagore]], recorded by [[Judith Blegen]] and [[Brigitte Fassbaender]]; a concerto for violin and orchestra, ''Lirico'', and a Sarabande-Fantasie for violin and orchestra, recorded by [[Aaron Rosand]]; ''10 Songs for Chorus A-Capella After Poems by Georg Heym'', recorded by the Cologne Radio Chorus; and a work for violin and orchestra, ''Preludio'' and ''Chant'', recorded by [[Gidon Kremer]]. His works for violin and piano were recorded on a 2007 disc by the Chinese violinist Yue Deng and French pianist [[Jean-Yves Thibaudet]]. In July 2008, Ogerman released an album of compositions with jazz pianist [[Danilo Perez]], ''Across the Crystal Sea''. |
||
Ogerman's major influences as a composer |
Ogerman's major influences as a composer were [[Max Reger]] and [[Alexander Scriabin]]. He steadfastly maintained that he was not primarily concerned with "modernism" per se, stating that his goal was to evoke an emotional response in the listener.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus-bio.html#About%20Claus%20Ogerman |title=The Work of Claus Ogerman |publisher=Bjbear71.com |access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref> |
||
==Work with Antonio Carlos Jobim== |
==Work with Antonio Carlos Jobim== |
||
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}} |
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}} |
||
Ogerman arranged and conducted ''[[Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim]]'' (1967), the first of two recordings that [[Frank Sinatra]] made with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Ogerman also arranged and conducted Jobim's ''[[The Composer of Desafinado, Plays]]'' (1963), ''[[A Certain Mr. Jobim]]'' (1967), ''[[Wave (Jobim album)|Wave]]'' (1967), ''[[Jobim (album)|Jobim]]'' (1972), ''[[Urubu (album)|Urubu]]'' (1976), and ''[[Terra Brasilis]]'' (1980), on which he also played the piano. |
Ogerman arranged and conducted ''[[Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim]]'' (1967), the first of two recordings that [[Frank Sinatra]] made with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Ogerman also arranged and conducted Jobim's ''[[The Composer of Desafinado, Plays]]'' (1963), ''[[A Certain Mr. Jobim]]'' (1967), ''[[Wave (Jobim album)|Wave]]'' (1967), ''[[Jobim (album)|Jobim]]'' (1972), ''[[Urubu (album)|Urubu]]'' (1976), and ''[[Terra Brasilis]]'' (1980), on which he also played the piano. Ogerman also produced the ''Jobim'' and ''Urubu'' albums. |
||
==Filmography as composer== |
==Filmography as composer== |
||
Line 53: | Line 52: | ||
* Die Prinzessin von St. Wolfgang (1957) |
* Die Prinzessin von St. Wolfgang (1957) |
||
* Seine Hoheit war ein Mädchen (1958) |
* Seine Hoheit war ein Mädchen (1958) |
||
* Rivalen der Manege (1958) |
* ''{{Ill|Bimbo the Great|de|Rivalen der Manege}}'' (1958) |
||
* ''[[All the Sins of the Earth]]'' (1958) |
* ''[[All the Sins of the Earth]]'' (1958) |
||
* ''[[Love, Girls and Soldiers]]'' (1958) |
* ''[[Love, Girls and Soldiers]]'' (1958) |
||
* Mit Eva fing die Sünde an (1958) |
* ''{{Ill|Mit Eva fing die Sünde an (film)|de|3=Mit Eva fing die Sünde an|lt=Mit Eva fing die Sünde an}}'' (1958) |
||
* ''$100 a Night'' (1959) |
* ''$100 a Night'' (1959) |
||
* ''[[Girls for the Mambo-Bar]]'' (1959) |
* ''[[Girls for the Mambo-Bar]]'' (1959) |
||
Line 64: | Line 63: | ||
==Discography== |
==Discography== |
||
*''Music From The Roaring 20's'' ([[United Artists Records|United Artists]], 1961) |
*''Music From The Roaring 20's'' ([[United Artists Records|United Artists]], 1961, reissued in 1967 as ''It's Charleston Time'') |
||
*''Jeder Singt Mit!'' (United Artists, 1962) – as Klaus Ogermann |
*''Jeder Singt Mit!'' (United Artists, 1962) – as Klaus Ogermann |
||
*''Soul Searchin' '' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
*''Soul Searchin' '' ([[RCA Victor]], 1965) |
||
*''Watusi Trumpets '' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
*''Watusi Trumpets '' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
||
*''Saxes Mexicanos'' (RCA Victor, 1966) |
*''Saxes Mexicanos'' (RCA Victor, 1966) |
||
*''Latin Rock'' (RCA Victor, 1967) |
*''Latin Rock'' (RCA Victor, 1967) |
||
*''Gate of Dreams'' (Warner Bros., 1977) |
*''Gate of Dreams'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1977) |
||
*''Aranjuez'' (CBS, 1978) with [[Jan Akkerman]] |
*''Aranjuez'' ([[CBS Records International|CBS]], 1978) with [[Jan Akkerman]] |
||
*''[[Cityscape (Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker album)|Cityscape]]'' (Warner Bros., 1982) with [[Michael Brecker]] |
*''[[Cityscape (Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker album)|Cityscape]]'' (Warner Bros., 1982) with [[Michael Brecker]] |
||
*''Preludio & Chant, Elegia, Symphonic Dances'' (EMI, 1982) with [[Gidon Kremer]] and the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] |
*''Preludio & Chant, Elegia, Symphonic Dances'' ([[EMI Records|EMI]], 1982) with [[Gidon Kremer]] and the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] |
||
*''Claus Ogerman featuring Michael Brecker'' ([[GRP Records|GRP]], 1991) with Michael Brecker |
*''Claus Ogerman featuring Michael Brecker'' ([[GRP Records|GRP]], 1991) with Michael Brecker |
||
*''Symphonic Dances / Some Times (Ballet)'' (Bay City, 1992) with the |
*''Symphonic Dances / Some Times (Ballet)'' (Bay City, 1992) with the New York Studio Symphony Orchestra |
||
*''Lyrical Works'' (EMI, 1997) |
*''Lyrical Works'' (EMI, 1997) |
||
*''Two Concertos'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 2001) |
*''Two Concertos'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 2001) |
||
*''Works for Violin & Piano'' ( |
*''Works for Violin & Piano'' (Decca, 2007) featuring Yue Deng (violin) and Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) |
||
===Compilations=== |
===Compilations=== |
||
Line 90: | Line 89: | ||
*''[[Livin' Inside Your Love]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979) |
*''[[Livin' Inside Your Love]]'' (Warner Bros., 1979) |
||
'''With [[Solomon Burke]]''' |
'''With [[Solomon Burke]]''' |
||
*"[[Cry to Me]]" (Atlantic, 1962) |
*"[[Cry to Me]]" ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1962) |
||
'''With [[Donald Byrd]]''' |
'''With [[Donald Byrd]]''' |
||
*''[[Up with Donald Byrd]]'' (Verve, 1965) |
*''[[Up with Donald Byrd]]'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1965) |
||
'''With [[Betty Carter]]''' |
'''With [[Betty Carter]]''' |
||
*''[['Round Midnight (1963 Betty Carter album)|'Round Midnight]]'' (Atco, 1963) |
*''[['Round Midnight (1963 Betty Carter album)|'Round Midnight]]'' ([[Atco Records|Atco]], 1963) |
||
'''With [[Sammy Davis Jr.]]''' |
'''With [[Sammy Davis Jr.]]''' |
||
*''[[The Nat King Cole Songbook]]'' (Reprise, 1965) |
*''[[The Nat King Cole Songbook]]'' ([[Reprise Records|Reprise]], 1965) |
||
*''[[Sammy's Back on Broadway]]'' (Reprise, 1965) |
*''[[Sammy's Back on Broadway]]'' (Reprise, 1965) |
||
'''With [[Bill Evans]]''' |
'''With [[Bill Evans]]''' |
||
*''[[Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs]]'' (MGM, 1963) |
*''[[Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs]]'' ([[MGM Records|MGM]], 1963) |
||
*''[[Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra]]'' (Verve, 1965) |
*''[[Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra]]'' (Verve, 1965) |
||
*''[[Symbiosis (Bill Evans album)|Symbiosis]]'' (MPS, 1974) - composed by Ogerman |
*''[[Symbiosis (Bill Evans album)|Symbiosis]]'' ([[MPS Records|MPS]], 1974) - composed by Ogerman |
||
'''With [[Connie Francis]]''' |
'''With [[Connie Francis]]''' |
||
*"[[In the Summer of His Years (song)|In the Summer of His Years]]" (MGM, 1963) |
*"[[In the Summer of His Years (song)|In the Summer of His Years]]" (MGM, 1963) |
||
Line 112: | Line 111: | ||
*''[[What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David]]'' (Verve, 1968) |
*''[[What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David]]'' (Verve, 1968) |
||
'''With [[Astrud Gilberto]]''' |
'''With [[Astrud Gilberto]]''' |
||
*''[[The Shadow of Your Smile (Astrud Gilberto album)|The Shadow of Your Smile]]'' (Verve, 1965 |
*''[[The Shadow of Your Smile (Astrud Gilberto album)|The Shadow of Your Smile]]'' (Verve, 1965) |
||
'''With [[João Gilberto]]''' |
'''With [[João Gilberto]]''' |
||
*''[[Amoroso (album)|Amoroso]]'' (Warner Bros., 1977) |
*''[[Amoroso (album)|Amoroso]]'' (Warner Bros., 1977) |
||
Line 118: | Line 117: | ||
*''The New Sound of Brazil: Piano of João Donato'' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
*''The New Sound of Brazil: Piano of João Donato'' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
||
'''With [[Lesley Gore]]''' |
'''With [[Lesley Gore]]''' |
||
*''[[I'll Cry If I Want To]]'' (Mercury, 1963) |
*''[[I'll Cry If I Want To]]'' ([[Mercury Records|Mercury]], 1963) |
||
*"[[Maybe I Know]]" (Mercury, 1964) |
*"[[Maybe I Know]]" (Mercury, 1964) |
||
*"[[Look of Love (Lesley Gore song)|Look of Love]]" (Mercury, 1964) |
*"[[Look of Love (Lesley Gore song)|Look of Love]]" (Mercury, 1964) |
||
Line 126: | Line 125: | ||
*''[[That Honey Horn Sound]]'' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
*''[[That Honey Horn Sound]]'' (RCA Victor, 1965) |
||
'''With [[Billie Holiday]]''' |
'''With [[Billie Holiday]]''' |
||
*''[[Lady in Satin]]'' ( |
*''[[Lady in Satin]]'' ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]], 1958) |
||
'''With [[Johnny Hodges]]''' |
'''With [[Johnny Hodges]]''' |
||
*''[[Sandy's Gone]]'' (Verve, 1963) |
*''[[Sandy's Gone]]'' (Verve, 1963) |
||
Line 136: | Line 135: | ||
*''[[The Composer of Desafinado Plays]]'' (Verve, 1963) |
*''[[The Composer of Desafinado Plays]]'' (Verve, 1963) |
||
*''[[A Certain Mr. Jobim]]'' (Warner Bros., 1967) |
*''[[A Certain Mr. Jobim]]'' (Warner Bros., 1967) |
||
*''[[Wave (Antonio Carlos Jobim album)|Wave]]'' (A&M, 1967 |
*''[[Wave (Antonio Carlos Jobim album)|Wave]]'' ([[A&M Records|A&M]], 1967) |
||
*''[[Jobim (album)|Jobim]]'' (MCA, 1973) - and producer |
*''[[Jobim (album)|Jobim]]'' (MCA, 1973) - and producer |
||
*''[[Urubu (album)|Urubu]]'' (Warner Bros., 1976) - and producer |
*''[[Urubu (album)|Urubu]]'' (Warner Bros., 1976) - and producer |
||
Line 153: | Line 152: | ||
*''[[Tequila (Wes Montgomery album)|Tequila]]'' (Verve, 1966) |
*''[[Tequila (Wes Montgomery album)|Tequila]]'' (Verve, 1966) |
||
*''[[Willow Weep for Me (album)|Willow Weep for Me]]'' (Verve, 1969) |
*''[[Willow Weep for Me (album)|Willow Weep for Me]]'' (Verve, 1969) |
||
'''With [[Danilo Perez]]''' |
|||
*''[[Across the Crystal Sea]]'' ([[EmArcy]], 2008) |
|||
'''With [[Oscar Peterson]]''' |
'''With [[Oscar Peterson]]''' |
||
*''[[Motions and Emotions]]'' (MPS, 1969) - and producer |
*''[[Motions and Emotions]]'' (MPS, 1969) - and producer |
||
Line 169: | Line 170: | ||
*"[[Comin' Home Baby]]" (Atlantic, 1962) |
*"[[Comin' Home Baby]]" (Atlantic, 1962) |
||
'''With [[Stanley Turrentine]]''' |
'''With [[Stanley Turrentine]]''' |
||
*''[[Nightwings (Stanley Turrentine album)|Nightwings]]'' (Fantasy, 1977) |
*''[[Nightwings (Stanley Turrentine album)|Nightwings]]'' ([[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]], 1977) |
||
*''[[West Side Highway (album)|West Side Highway]]'' (Fantasy, 1978) |
*''[[West Side Highway (album)|West Side Highway]]'' (Fantasy, 1978) |
||
'''With [[Kai Winding]]''' |
'''With [[Kai Winding]]''' |
||
Line 186: | Line 187: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* [[Marc Myers]]: ''[http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/10/claus-ogerman.html Claus Ogerman (1930-2016)]'', JazzWax. 2017-10-17. |
* [[Marc Myers]]: ''[http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/10/claus-ogerman.html Claus Ogerman (1930-2016)]'', JazzWax. 2017-10-17. |
||
* Barbara J. Major: ''[http://www.bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus.html The Work of Claus Ogerman]'' (biography, discography), |
* Barbara J. Major: ''[http://www.bjbear71.com/Ogerman/Claus.html The Work of Claus Ogerman]'' (biography, discography), 2014–2016. |
||
* {{discogs artist}} |
* {{discogs artist}} |
||
* {{IMDb name|0644659|Klaus Ogermann}} |
* {{IMDb name|0644659|Klaus Ogermann}} |
||
Line 193: | Line 194: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogerman, Claus}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogerman, Claus}} |
||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:1930 births]] |
[[Category:1930 births]] |
||
[[Category:2016 deaths]] |
[[Category:2016 deaths]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:20th-century German composers]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:20th-century German conductors (music)]] |
||
[[Category:German |
[[Category:20th-century German male musicians]] |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:German ballet composers]] |
|||
[[Category:Emigrants from West Germany to the United States]] |
|||
[[Category:German male conductors (music)]] |
[[Category:German male conductors (music)]] |
||
[[Category:German male composers]] |
[[Category:German male composers]] |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Jazz arrangers]] |
[[Category:Jazz arrangers]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:German male jazz musicians]] |
||
[[Category:People from Racibórz]] |
[[Category:People from Racibórz]] |
||
[[Category:People from the Province of Upper Silesia]] |
[[Category:People from the Province of Upper Silesia]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:RCA Victor artists]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:German film score composers]] |
||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:20th-century conductors (music)]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ |
Latest revision as of 14:17, 23 June 2024
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Claus Ogerman | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Klaus Ogermann |
Born | Ratibor, Germany | 29 April 1930
Died | 8 March 2016 | (aged 85)
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instrument | Piano |
Years active | 1950s–2016 |
Labels | United Artists, Warner Bros., Decca |
Claus Ogerman (born Klaus Ogermann; 29 April 1930 – 8 March 2016) was a German arranger, conductor, and composer best known for his work with Billie Holiday, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Michael Brecker, and Diana Krall.
Life and work
[edit]Born in Ratibor (Racibórz), Upper Silesia, Germany (now part of Poland), Ogerman began his career with the piano. He was one of the most prolific 20th century arrangers and has worked in the top 40, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, soul, easy listening, Broadway and classical music fields. The exact number of recording artists for whom Ogerman has either arranged or conducted during his career has never been determined.[citation needed]
In the 1950s, Ogerman worked in Germany as an arranger-pianist with Kurt Edelhagen, saxophonist and bandleader Max Greger, and Delle Haensch. Claus (then Klaus) also worked as a part-time vocalist and recorded several 45 rpm singles under the pen name of "Tom Collins", duetting with Hannelore Cremer; he also recorded a solo vocal with the Delle Haensch Jump Combo.[1]
In 1959, Ogerman moved to the United States and joined the producer Creed Taylor at Verve Records, working on recordings with many artists, including Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Kai Winding, and Cal Tjader. Verve was sold to MGM in 1963. Ogerman, by his own reckoning in Gene Lees' Jazzletter publication, arranged some 60-70 albums for Verve under Creed Taylor's direction from 1963 to 1967.[2]
During this time he also arranged many pop hits, including Solomon Burke's "Cry To Me", and Lesley Gore's "It's My Party", "Judy's Turn to Cry", "She's a Fool", and "Maybe I Know".[3] In 1966, Ogerman arranged and conducted Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (Verve Records). In 1967, he joined Creed Taylor on the A&M/CTi label. Ogerman charted under his own name in 1965. The RCA single "Watusi Trumpets" reached #130 in the Music Vendor charts.[citation needed]
He arranged and conducted the orchestra on George Benson's 1976 album, Breezin', as well as on two other Benson albums. Ogerman won the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for George Benson's "Soulful Strut" and the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for "Quiet Nights". Among Ogerman's most remarkable albums are: Gate Of Dreams (WB, 1977), from the music of the ballet Some Times; Cityscape with Michael Brecker (Warner/Pioneer, 1982); and Claus Ogerman Featuring Michael Brecker (GRP, 1991), all of which include original compositions centered on the juxtaposition of jazz instruments and rhythm sections with classical music orchestra.[citation needed]
Ogerman arranged and conducted Diana Krall's 2001 album The Look of Love, and conducted parts of her Live in Paris performance recorded on DVD. He also served as arranger and conductor for Krall's 2009 album Quiet Nights.
Classical compositions
[edit]From the 1970s, Ogerman devoted himself almost exclusively to composing. His commissions included a ballet score for the American Ballet Theatre, Some Times; a work for Bill Evans for jazz piano and orchestra, Symbiosis; a work for Michael Brecker for saxophone and orchestra, Cityscape; a song cycle, Tagore-Lieder, after poems by Rabindranath Tagore, recorded by Judith Blegen and Brigitte Fassbaender; a concerto for violin and orchestra, Lirico, and a Sarabande-Fantasie for violin and orchestra, recorded by Aaron Rosand; 10 Songs for Chorus A-Capella After Poems by Georg Heym, recorded by the Cologne Radio Chorus; and a work for violin and orchestra, Preludio and Chant, recorded by Gidon Kremer. His works for violin and piano were recorded on a 2007 disc by the Chinese violinist Yue Deng and French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. In July 2008, Ogerman released an album of compositions with jazz pianist Danilo Perez, Across the Crystal Sea.
Ogerman's major influences as a composer were Max Reger and Alexander Scriabin. He steadfastly maintained that he was not primarily concerned with "modernism" per se, stating that his goal was to evoke an emotional response in the listener.[4]
Work with Antonio Carlos Jobim
[edit]Ogerman arranged and conducted Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967), the first of two recordings that Frank Sinatra made with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Ogerman also arranged and conducted Jobim's The Composer of Desafinado, Plays (1963), A Certain Mr. Jobim (1967), Wave (1967), Jobim (1972), Urubu (1976), and Terra Brasilis (1980), on which he also played the piano. Ogerman also produced the Jobim and Urubu albums.
Filmography as composer
[edit]- The Old Forester House (1956)
- Weißer Holunder (1957)
- Eine verrückte Familie (1957)
- Liebe, wie die Frau sie wünscht (1957)
- I Was All His (1957)
- Die Unschuld vom Lande (1957)
- Die Prinzessin von St. Wolfgang (1957)
- Seine Hoheit war ein Mädchen (1958)
- Bimbo the Great (1958)
- All the Sins of the Earth (1958)
- Love, Girls and Soldiers (1958)
- Mit Eva fing die Sünde an (1958)
- $100 a Night (1959)
- Girls for the Mambo-Bar (1959)
- A Summer You Will Never Forget (1959)
- The Bellboy and the Playgirls (1962)
- Looking for Love (1964)
Discography
[edit]- Music From The Roaring 20's (United Artists, 1961, reissued in 1967 as It's Charleston Time)
- Jeder Singt Mit! (United Artists, 1962) – as Klaus Ogermann
- Soul Searchin' (RCA Victor, 1965)
- Watusi Trumpets (RCA Victor, 1965)
- Saxes Mexicanos (RCA Victor, 1966)
- Latin Rock (RCA Victor, 1967)
- Gate of Dreams (Warner Bros., 1977)
- Aranjuez (CBS, 1978) with Jan Akkerman
- Cityscape (Warner Bros., 1982) with Michael Brecker
- Preludio & Chant, Elegia, Symphonic Dances (EMI, 1982) with Gidon Kremer and the London Symphony Orchestra
- Claus Ogerman featuring Michael Brecker (GRP, 1991) with Michael Brecker
- Symphonic Dances / Some Times (Ballet) (Bay City, 1992) with the New York Studio Symphony Orchestra
- Lyrical Works (EMI, 1997)
- Two Concertos (Decca, 2001)
- Works for Violin & Piano (Decca, 2007) featuring Yue Deng (violin) and Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
Compilations
[edit]- The Man Behind the Music (Boutique, 2002) - 4CD featuring various artists
as arranger/conductor
[edit]With George Benson
- Breezin' (Warner Bros., 1976)
- In Flight (Warner Bros., 1977)
- Livin' Inside Your Love (Warner Bros., 1979)
With Solomon Burke
With Donald Byrd
- Up with Donald Byrd (Verve, 1965)
With Betty Carter
- 'Round Midnight (Atco, 1963)
With Sammy Davis Jr.
- The Nat King Cole Songbook (Reprise, 1965)
- Sammy's Back on Broadway (Reprise, 1965)
With Bill Evans
- Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs (MGM, 1963)
- Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (Verve, 1965)
- Symbiosis (MPS, 1974) - composed by Ogerman
With Connie Francis
- "In the Summer of His Years" (MGM, 1963)
- Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David (MGM, 1968 - and producer)
With Michael Franks
- Sleeping Gypsy (Warner Bros., 1977)
With Stan Getz
- Reflections (Verve, 1963)
- Voices (Verve, 1967)
- What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Verve, 1968)
With Astrud Gilberto
- The Shadow of Your Smile (Verve, 1965)
With João Gilberto
- Amoroso (Warner Bros., 1977)
With João Donato
- The New Sound of Brazil: Piano of João Donato (RCA Victor, 1965)
With Lesley Gore
- I'll Cry If I Want To (Mercury, 1963)
- "Maybe I Know" (Mercury, 1964)
- "Look of Love" (Mercury, 1964)
With Stephane Grappelli
- Uptown Dance (CBS, 1978)
With Al Hirt
- That Honey Horn Sound (RCA Victor, 1965)
With Billie Holiday
- Lady in Satin (Columbia, 1958)
With Johnny Hodges
- Sandy's Gone (Verve, 1963)
With Freddie Hubbard
- The Love Connection (Columbia, 1979) - and producer
With Willis Jackson
- 'Gator Tails (Verve, 1964)
With Antônio Carlos Jobim
- The Composer of Desafinado Plays (Verve, 1963)
- A Certain Mr. Jobim (Warner Bros., 1967)
- Wave (A&M, 1967)
- Jobim (MCA, 1973) - and producer
- Urubu (Warner Bros., 1976) - and producer
- Terra Brasilis (Warner Bros., 1980) - and piano
With Dr. John
- City Lights (Horizon, 1978)
With Wynton Kelly
- Comin' in the Back Door (Verve, 1963)
With Ben E. King
- Ben E. King Sings for Soulful Lovers (Atco, 1962)
- Don't Play That Song! (Atco, 1962)
With Diana Krall
- The Look of Love (Verve, 2001)
- Quiet Nights (Verve, 2009)
With Wes Montgomery
- Tequila (Verve, 1966)
- Willow Weep for Me (Verve, 1969)
With Danilo Perez
- Across the Crystal Sea (EmArcy, 2008)
With Oscar Peterson
- Motions and Emotions (MPS, 1969) - and producer
With Frank Sinatra
- Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (Reprise, 1967) with Antônio Carlos Jobim
- The World We Knew (Reprise, 1967)
With Jimmy Smith
- Any Number Can Win (Verve, 1963)
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Verve, 1964))
With Barbra Streisand
- Stoney End (Columbia, 1971)
- Classical Barbra (Columbia, 1973 [1976]) - conductor and producer
With Cal Tjader
- Warm Wave (Verve, 1964)
With Mel Tormé
- "Comin' Home Baby" (Atlantic, 1962)
With Stanley Turrentine
- Nightwings (Fantasy, 1977)
- West Side Highway (Fantasy, 1978)
With Kai Winding
- Soul Surfin' (Verve, 1963)
- Kai Winding (Verve, 1963)
- Mondo Cane #2 (Verve, 1964)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Work of Claus Ogerman". Bjbear71.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ "The Work of Claus Ogerman". Bjbear71.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ "The Work of Claus Ogerman". Bjbear71.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "The Work of Claus Ogerman". Bjbear71.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
External links
[edit]- Marc Myers: Claus Ogerman (1930-2016), JazzWax. 2017-10-17.
- Barbara J. Major: The Work of Claus Ogerman (biography, discography), 2014–2016.
- Claus Ogerman discography at Discogs
- Klaus Ogermann at IMDb
- 1930 births
- 2016 deaths
- 20th-century German composers
- 20th-century German conductors (music)
- 20th-century German male musicians
- 21st-century German composers
- 21st-century German conductors (music)
- 21st-century German male musicians
- German ballet composers
- Emigrants from West Germany to the United States
- German male conductors (music)
- German male composers
- German music arrangers
- Grammy Award winners
- Jazz arrangers
- German male jazz musicians
- People from Racibórz
- People from the Province of Upper Silesia
- RCA Victor artists
- German film score composers