Gavin Walker
May 27, 2009, 09:28 PM
The story of Grant Green, one of the major guitarists in Jazz music to emerge in the 1960's, is one of the sadder sagas. Grant's life was short as he was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 6, 1935 and died on January 31,1979. He was just 44. Grant's career was blighted by narcotics addiction and failed attempts, later on, to boost his sagging fortune by making blatantly 'commercial' recordings. The other great guitarist to emerge in the 1960's was Wes Montgomery. Although Wes died young at age 43 (Wes was older than Green by a decade and his death was also 11 years before Green's) his life was dissimiliar to Green's as Montgomery was not a drug addict and Wes' more commercial recordings, late in his career, made him a super-star and brought him more gigs and recognition than ever. However, when evaluating both Green and Montgomery, it is their early recordings, Green's for Blue Note and Montgomery's for Riverside and Verve that brought out the creativity and artistry of both these men. Wes and Grant came from Charlie Christian (not unusual for any Jazz guitarist) but each developed their own personality and identity in their hometowns (Wes in Indianapolis and Green in St. Louis) before their exposure to a national audience. Wes's style is well known with his "thumb" technique and a combination of single lines with big chords (a simplification to be sure) and Green was a "sound man" who developed his single line technique much like that of a horn player. After Green's Blue Note period where just about all his recording dates have been made available, he moved to other labels like Verve, Cobblestone and then back to Blue Note. His music changed in the mid-60's when he began recording and working with more r&b oriented players and moved into a more funky and bluesy groove. With the exception of a few overblown and over-produced recordings, his funk and blues style was still valid and musical and his working bands were accepted by Jazz fans everywhere as he played small clubs around the country in cities with large black populations.
Tonight's Feature was made toward the end of his first Blue Note period in June of 1964. It was Lou Donaldson, who brought Green to Blue Note's Alfred Lion and Lion favoured Green by recording him often as a leader and as a sideman. As Green was often in trouble with the law due to his heroin addiction, it was his frequent recordings coupled with financial help from Lion that often saw him through. Alfred Lion was no soft-heart, however, and if Green's immense talent had not been there and Grant's recordings not sold for the label....he would have been out the door. Green's life may have been chaotic but his music was always clear and inspired and the Feature is an example of this.
Green recorded so much for Blue Note that many of his dates remained unreleased until much later and after his passing. This date was one of those. The album was issued in the early 80's on vinyl. It was part of Blue Note's 'white cover' series. It eventually came out again on CD with an extra tune on the label's Connoisseur Series in 1995. The album is called "Solid" after it's title track, a blues by Sonny Rollins. Green recorded quite a few of Rollins' tunes during this time. The rhythm section is superb with McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on accoustic bass and the dynamism of Elvin Jones' drums to keep the fires burning. Green picked two of the day's leading saxophonists to keep him company on the front line. Alto saxophonist, James Spaulding and tenorist Joe Henderson play up to their own high standards and blend with Green so well. Green contributes one tune, called "Grant's Tune" and Henderson's "The Kicker" is given a driving interpretation. Duke Pearson's "Minor League" opens the set in an inspired fashion but the highlight of the date is George Russell's far reaching "Ezz-thetic" (dedicated to the great fighter and Jazz fan, Ezzard Charles). Burt Bacharach's "Wives and Lovers" is done by Green and the rhythm section with no horns, in a sprung-waltz feel, like Trane's "My Favourite Things". Like the title, this album is SOLID!! Another fine session to remember the legacy of one of the best loved guitarists in Jazz......Mr. Grant Green.
As usual, the Feature will be heard shortly after 11pm but we'll have much more for you starting at 9pm.....join me and we'll see you then.
Tonight's Feature was made toward the end of his first Blue Note period in June of 1964. It was Lou Donaldson, who brought Green to Blue Note's Alfred Lion and Lion favoured Green by recording him often as a leader and as a sideman. As Green was often in trouble with the law due to his heroin addiction, it was his frequent recordings coupled with financial help from Lion that often saw him through. Alfred Lion was no soft-heart, however, and if Green's immense talent had not been there and Grant's recordings not sold for the label....he would have been out the door. Green's life may have been chaotic but his music was always clear and inspired and the Feature is an example of this.
Green recorded so much for Blue Note that many of his dates remained unreleased until much later and after his passing. This date was one of those. The album was issued in the early 80's on vinyl. It was part of Blue Note's 'white cover' series. It eventually came out again on CD with an extra tune on the label's Connoisseur Series in 1995. The album is called "Solid" after it's title track, a blues by Sonny Rollins. Green recorded quite a few of Rollins' tunes during this time. The rhythm section is superb with McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on accoustic bass and the dynamism of Elvin Jones' drums to keep the fires burning. Green picked two of the day's leading saxophonists to keep him company on the front line. Alto saxophonist, James Spaulding and tenorist Joe Henderson play up to their own high standards and blend with Green so well. Green contributes one tune, called "Grant's Tune" and Henderson's "The Kicker" is given a driving interpretation. Duke Pearson's "Minor League" opens the set in an inspired fashion but the highlight of the date is George Russell's far reaching "Ezz-thetic" (dedicated to the great fighter and Jazz fan, Ezzard Charles). Burt Bacharach's "Wives and Lovers" is done by Green and the rhythm section with no horns, in a sprung-waltz feel, like Trane's "My Favourite Things". Like the title, this album is SOLID!! Another fine session to remember the legacy of one of the best loved guitarists in Jazz......Mr. Grant Green.
As usual, the Feature will be heard shortly after 11pm but we'll have much more for you starting at 9pm.....join me and we'll see you then.