Grant GREEN - Am I Blue 1963

Grant GREEN - Am I Blue 1963
BST-84139

Jazz

This great guitarist recorded in a variety of settings and concepts during his years at Blue Note. Am I Blue featured the perennial trio of Green, organist John Patton and drummer Ben Dixon with the trumpet of Johnny Coles and the tenor saxophone of newcomer Joe Henderson.
What makes this album so unusual in Green's canon is that the entire album is in a soulful, atmospheric ballad groove. The material ranges from the blues ballad "Sweet Slumber" to the country song "Take These Chains From My Heart", but the after hours mood that these men create is never broken.
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A1. Am I Blue 6:54
       Written-By - Clarke , Akst
A2. Take These Chains From My Heart 6:09
       Written-By - Rose , Heath
A3. I Wanna Be Loved 7:34
       Written-By - Rose , Heyman
B1. Sweet Slumber 7:12
       Written-By - Neiburg , Woode , Millinder
B2. For All We Know 13:57
       Written-By - Coots , Lewis
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Drums- Ben Dixon
Guitar- Grant Green
Organ- John Patton
Tenor Sax- Joe Henderson
Trumpet- Johnny Coles
**

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Grant GREEN - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Grant Green With Sonny Clark 1961-1962

Grant GREEN - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Grant Green With Sonny Clark 1961-1962

Jazz

Over a five-week period in early 1962, Grant Green recorded three amazing quartet sessions with Sonny Clark on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes or Art Blakey on drums. As magnificent as the results were, the three albums, considered too progressive for Green's soul-jazz following, languished in the vaults for 18 years. In 1980, "Airegin," the session with Blakey, came out in the United States, while the two with Hayes ("Gooden's Corner" and "Oleo") came out only in Japan. Later issued briefly on Mosaic with three bonus tracks, they have since become collectors' items of legendary proportions. Now Blue Note is finally making them available on this specially-priced 2-CD set. Some of the best music Grant Green ever recorded.
**
Mosaic released a four-disc box set titled The Complete Blue Note With Sonny Clark in 1991, rounding up everything that the guitarist and pianist recorded together between 1961 and 1962. Blue Note's 1997 version of the set, The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark, trims Mosaic's collection by two discs, offering only the quartet sessions (the Ike Quebec sessions, Born to Be Blue and Blue and Sentimental, are available on individual discs). In some ways, this actually results in a more unified set, since it puts Green and Clark directly in the spotlight, with no saxophone to complete for solos, but it doesn't really matter if the music is presented as this double-disc set, the four-disc box, or the individual albums — this is superb music, showcasing the guitarist and pianist at their very best. All of the sessions are straight-ahead bop but the music has a gentle, relaxed vibe that makes it warm, intimate, and accessible. Grant and Clark's mastery is subtle — the music is so enjoyable, you may not notice the deftness of their improvisation and technique — but that invests the music with the grace, style, and emotion that distinguishes The Complete Quartets. Small group hard bop rarely comes any better than this.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine.
**
Grant Green - Guitar
Sonny Clark - Piano
Sam Jones - Bass
Art Blakey - Drums (cd1, #1-7)
Louis Hayes - Drums
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Cd1
01. Airegin (Rollins) 7:32
02. It Ain't Necessarily So (Gershwin, Gershwin) 10:20
03. I Concentrate on You (Porter) 5:40
04. The Things We Did Last Summer (Cahn, Styne) 5:54
05. The Song Is You (Hammerstein, Kern) 7:44
06. Nancy (With the Laughing Face) (Silvers, VanHeusen) 6:20
07. Airegin [alternate take] (Rollins) 7:34
08. On Green Dolphin Street (Kaper, Washington) 6:25
09. Shadrack (MacGimsey) 6:20
10. What Is This Thing Called Love ? (Porter) 5:40
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Cd2
01. Moon River (Mancini, Mercer) 5:34
02. Gooden's Corner (Green) 8:11
03. Two for One (Green) 7:38
04. Oleo (Rollins) 5:35
05. Little Girl Blue (Hart, Rodgers) 7:12
06. Tune-Up (Davis) 7:17
07. Hip Funk (Green) 8:35
08. My Favorite Things (Hammerstein, Rodgers) 8:28
09. Oleo [alternate take] (Rollins) 6:00
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Grant GREEN - Born To Be Blue 1961

Grant GREEN - Born To Be Blue 1961

Jazz

The fluent guitarist shines in the company of big tenor Ike Quebec and pianist Sonny Clark on this reissue, recorded in late 1961 and early 1962. Though well versed in bebop and inspired a great deal by Charlie Parker, Green relished beautiful ballad melodies and the soulfulness of the blues. Both are readily on display here, especially considering the fact that both Quebec and Clark had similar tastes. Green handles slower tunes such as "My One and Only Love" and "Count Every Star" with extreme care and sensitivity, showing wonderful melodic creativity embellished by quick, crafty runs. The title track (offered in two versions) showcases Quebec's dense but delicate tenor, which betrays a notable Ben Webster influence. Of particular note are Green's molten readings of an uptempo "Someday My Prince Will Come" and of Bird's "Cool Blues."
By Marc Greilsamer.
**
Grant Green- Guitar
Ike Quebec- Tenor Sax
Sonny Clark- Piano
Sam Jones- Bass
Louis Hayes- Drums
**
01. Someday My Prince Will Come 6:30 
02. Born To Be Blue 4:54
03. Born To Be Blue (Alternate Take) 4:41
04. If I Should Lose You 6:05
05. Back In Your Own Back Yard 8:04
06. My One And Only Love 5:50
07. Count Every Star 6:21
08. Cool Blues 7:57
09. Outer Space 8:43
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Grant GREEN - Live at the Lighthouse 1972

Grant GREEN - Live at the Lighthouse 1972
Remastered Edd. 1998

Jazz

Some of Grant Green's hottest moments as a jazz-funk bandleader came on his live records of the era, which were filled with extended, smoking grooves and gritty ensemble interplay. Live at the Lighthouse makes a fine companion piece to the excellent Alive!, though there are some subtle differences which give the album its own distinct flavor. For starters, the average track length is even greater, with four of the six jams clocking in at over 12 minutes. That makes it easy to get lost in the grooves as the musicians ride and work them over. What's more, the rhythmic foundation of the group is noticeably altered. Live at the Lighthouse is one of the few Green albums of the period not to feature loose-limbed funky drummer Idris Muhammad, and his spare, booming sound and direct James Brown inspiration give way to the busy, bubbling, frequently up-tempo polyrhythms of drummer Greg Williams and extra percussionist Bobbye Porter Hall. They push the rest of the group to cook up a storm on tracks like "Windjammer" (which is taken at a madly up-tempo pace compared to the version on Green Is Beautiful), Donald Byrd's modal piece "Fancy Free" (which features some of Green's best soloing of the date), and organist Shelton Laster's soulful original "Flood in Franklin Park." Laster winds up as probably the most impassioned soloist, breaking out of the pocket for some spiralling, hard-swinging flights. For his part, Green works the grooves more... with the ease of a soul-jazz veteran used to the concept. The results make Live at the Lighthouse one of his best, most organic jazz-funk outings. [The CD reissue excises four spoken DJ intros from the original double LP in order to fit all the music on one disc.]
By Steve Huey, All Music Guide.
**
Grant Green- Guitar
Claude Bartee- Soprano and Tenor Saxophones
Willie Bivens- Vibes
Shelton Laster- Organ
Wilton Felder- Electric Bass
Greg Williams- Drums
Bobbye Porter Hall- Percussion
**
01. Introduction By Hank Stewart
02. Windjammer
03. Betcha By Golly Wow
04. Fancy Free
05. Flood In Franklin Park
06. Jan Jan
07. Walk In The Night
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Grant GREEN - Ballads 2002

Grant GREEN - Ballads 2002
Recorded on April 1961 and January 1962

Jazz

Ballads captures Grant Green in a mellow mood, offering something like a portrait of an artist as a young guitarist. All seven selections are from 1960 and 1961, mostly, as the liner notes state, because Green performed ballads less often as time went on (especially as a leader). It's instructive and gratifying, then, to have pieces like "My One and Only Love" and "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" in one place. The personnel varies quite a bit since each cut originates from a different album, though pianist Sonny Clark plays on four cuts, including the lovely "Little Girl Blue." Flutist Yusef Lateef, organist Jack McDuff, and drummer Al Harewood join in for a delicate, impressionistic rendering of "My Funny Valentine," while bassist Ben Tucker and drummer Dave Bailey add minimalist support to a moody version of "'Round Midnight." On each tune, four of which exceed seven minutes, Green takes his time developing his ideas. He can dazzle, but he'd rather hold a note or allow a phrase to linger in the air for a moment. He'd rather wring a few more blue notes out of "God Bless the Child" than impress the listener with his speed and agility. For those unfamiliar with Green's softer side, Ballads offers a fine introduction. For those in the know, Ballads conveniently collects these pieces in the same place, creating an exquisite late-night disc.
By Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
**
Green's playing is immediately recognizable, perhaps more than any other guitarist. Green has been almost systematically ignored by jazz buffs with a bent to the cool side, and he has only recently begun to be appreciated for his incredible musicality. Perhaps no guitarist has ever handled standards and ballads with the brilliance of Grant Green. Mosaic, the nation's premier jazz reissue label, issued a wonderful collection The Complete Blue Note Recordings with Sonny Clark, featuring prime early '60s Green albums plus unissued tracks. Some of the finest examples of Green's work can be found there.
By Michael Erlewine and Ron Wynn, All Music Guide.
**
Grant Green- (Guitar),
Ike Quebec- (Tenor Sax);
Yusef Lateef- (Flute);
Sonny Clark- (Piano);
Jack McDuff- (Hammond B-3 Organ).
**
01. My One And Only Love 5:50
02. God Bless The Child 7:25
03. My Funny Valentine 9:09
04. Little Girl Blue 7:14
05. Born To Be Blue 4:54
06. Nancy (With The Laughing Face) 6:25
07. 'Round About Midnight 7:03
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Grant GREEN - Live At Club Mozambique ´71

Grant GREEN - Live At Club Mozambique ´71

(Recorded live on January 6 & 7, 1971 at Club Mozambique, Detroit, MI
The original multi-track masters for this session have not survived.
This CD was produced from the mono reference mixes made on location.)

Jazz

Live at Club Mozambique was, according to Bob Belden's liner notes, rumored to exist for decades in Blue Note's Grant Green discography, but was never released. His explanation as to why is satisfactory -- Green's star had waned considerably -- and makes some sense, but the label had 15 unissued albums by the guitarist by 1971. This date recorded at the famed Detroit jazz club (Green was living in the city at the time) is the second such set of grooves to be issued from the club floor -- Lonnie Smith's was the first. The band consists of Idris Muhammad, Ronnie Foster, Houston Person, and the all but unknown Clarence Thomas, and the two tenor saxophonists (Thomas also played soprano here) laid out heavy, deep funk on the tunes that were chosen. Foster and Muhammad were symbiotic as a rhythm section. Foster's grooving under-the-cover basslines matched the soul groove style of Muhammad. They locked onto Green and couldn't be shaken loose. Obviously created for an inner-city audience and the jukebox crowd, this set was recorded a scant five months after Alive!, but bites a lot harder. The tunes include a simmering read of the Clarence Carter vehicle "Patches" with Green stretching the melody to the breaking point, and the horn section fills egg him on. "One More Chance" was written by the Corporation (the Mizell Brothers) and recorded by the Jackson 5. It's got that soulful ballad sweetness just over the top of some sparkling chops -- Thomas' soprano here is a perfect foil to both Green and Person. Green's reliance on those low strings for his melody is special; it's meaty and stays in the pocket, allowing for more ensemble interplay -- though his solo is a thing to behold, all knotty yet still full of warmth and vigor. When he starts twinning with Foster near its end, the joy just bleeds from the speakers. The read of "Walk on By" is soulful without being overly ornate. Thomas' "Farid" and the opener, "Jan Jan," written by M. Davis (not Miles), are for the hard jazz fans here. The horn charts are tight and elaborate in their fashion, and Green pulls out the stops layering blues, jazz, and soulful funkiness into each of his lines. And to hear this rhythm section simmer and pop is glorious. Highly recommended.
By Thom Jurek. AMG.
**
A rare funky treasure -- lost live material from Grant Green's hippest years at Blue Note -- presented here for the first time ever ! The set's an incredibly smoking one -- with loads of long tracks that really stretch out in a hard-hitting, bottom-heavy funky mode -- no surprise, considering that Idris Muhammad's on drums, as part of a lineup that also includes Ronnie Foster, Houston Person, and Clarence Thomas! The groove here is a bit more Prestige jazz funk than Blue Note -- the kind of rough-edged and spontaneous vibe that Rusty Bryant, Leon Spencer, and others cooked up during the early 70s on some of their best classics for that label -- but Green's a perfect person to catch the spirit of that wildfire, and jams long and nicely.
From Dusty Groove.
**
Grant Green- (Guitar)
Clarence Thomas- (Sopranino Sax, Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax)
Houston Person- (Tenor Sax)
Ronnie Foster- (Organ)
Idris Muhammad- (Drums)
**
01. Jan Jan 9:30
02. Farid 11:41
03. Bottom Of The Barrel 9:39
04. Walk On By 7:09
05. More Today Than Yesterday 12:22
06. One More Chance 6:07
07. Patches 9:28
08. I Am Somebody 9:09
**
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Grant GREEN - Nigeria 1980

Grant GREEN - Nigeria 1980
Recorded on January 13, 1962

Jazz

Ironically, neither Green nor Clark was around to see any of this music released. Apparently due to Green's prodigious output in the early '60's, Blue Note decided to shelve these "less commercial" recordings in favor of his more groove-oriented soul-jazz material.
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Upon winning the new star category in Down Beat’s critics’ poll in 1962, jazz guitarist Grant Green attracted national attention as a major new force in the New York jazz scene. Green’s guitar style—rooted in the swing approach of Charlie Christian, the blues, and African American religious music—is renowned for its warm, inviting tone and flowing single-note lines.
**
Sam Jones- Bass
Art Blakey- Drums
Grant Green- Guitar
Sonny Clark- Piano
**
A1. Airegin 7:32  
A2. It Ain't Necessarily So 10:23
 
B1. I Concentrate On You 5:49  
B2. The Things We Did Last Summer 5:54
B3. The Song Is You 7:46  
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Grant GREEN - Carryin' On 1969

Grant GREEN - Carryin' On 1969
(This will make [OldHippieRick] :)

Jazz

Imagine being Grant Green in 1969. So long the second best, second most well-known, second most successful jazz guitarist (behind Wes Montgomery), and now thrust into the limelight as Wes's successor following his untimely death in 1968. How would you react? Carry on playing straight soul jazz as you had been doing, or attempt to broaden your appeal?

Grant decided to do the latter, and in the process delivered one of his best recordings, as well as one of the finest jazz-funk records of all time. He achieved this by incorporating a strong funk element into his music, based on his appreciation of artists such as James Brown (marked by his cover of 'I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I'll Get It Myself)'). This change in his sound didn't sit well with some - the jazz purists deriding it as 'selling out' - but to my ears, Green's playing sits well with the laid-back funk backdrop created by Jimmy Lewis and the ever-wonderful Idris Muhammad. I've always admired Green's light touch and 'slippery' lines that seem to glide over the rhythm section, and this quality is enhanced by the elastic properties of the funk.

The album has two standout tracks - a cover of the Meters' 'Ease Back' (which also features some great playing by the relatively unknown tenor, Claude Bartree) and Earl Neal Creaque's 'Cease The Bombing'. The latter stands as one of Green's more overtly political pieces, with it's title directly referencing the war in Vietnam. It's also one of his best - a melodic slice of laid-back funk whose mood of relaxed contemplation (and catchy tune) perfectly fits the anti war sentiment. Green was to continue in this vein for the rest of his career, in albums such as 'Green Is Beautiful' and 'The Final Comedown'.
**
One of Grant's late great funky albums for Blue Note, and a solid groover with Idris Muhammad on drums, playing his trademark funky breakbeat sound from the late 60s! The tracks are long, with heavy jazz funk grooves that won't stop all the way through -- in the same mode as some of Lou Donaldson's classic groovers from the time. Titles include James Brown's "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothin", The Meters' "Ease Back", and Neal Creque's "Cease The Bombing". (Liberty pressing. Cover has some wear, ringwear, and radio station call letters on the front and back.)
From Dusty Groove.
**
Grant Green- Guitar
Claude Bartee- Tenor Sax
Willie Bivens- Vibes
Clarence Palmer- Electric Piano
Earl Neal Creaque- Electric Piano (on “Cease the Bombing” only)
Jimmy Lewis- Fender Bass
Idris Muhammad- Drums
**
A1. Ease Back   5:43
A2. Hurt So Bad   6:45
A3. I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)   6:07

B1. Upshot   9:58
B2. Cease the Bombing   8:50
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Grant GREEN - Matador 1964

Grant GREEN - Matador 1964
This one comes from goodfriend  *OldHippieRick*

Jazz

A fantastic mid 60s album from Grant Green, but one that never got its due originally, because it was unreleased at the time -- and didn't come out until this rare Japanese-only vinyl pressing! The session's a spare quartet one, with Green's guitar playing modal grooves over rhythm by McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw, and Elvin Jones. Cuts are long, and there's a freewheeling quality to the material that's only ever matched by some of the Grant Green/Larry Young sessions from the same time. Titles include "Matador", "Bedouin", Green Jeans", and a killer version of "My Favorite Things", done in a very Coltrane-esque style.
From Dusty Groove.
**
Grant Green- (Guitar)
McCoy Tyner- (Piano)
Bob Cranshaw- (Bass)
Elvin Jones- (Drums)
**
01. Matador 10:52
02. My Favorite Things 10:24
03. Green Jeans 9:10
04. Bedouin 11:41
05. Wives and Lovers 9:02
**
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