Grant Green's Best Straight Ahead Recordings

[dkaplowitz]

Was it an era where he switched over to the funk stuff, or were there certain recordings mixed throughout? I want to hear his straight ahead jazz stuff, I'm not really interested in the funkier/jam-y recordings (good though they are!)

Thanks for any info.

Dave

[Baminated]

There's a double CD w/Sonny Clark which is Bliss . . .

The LAtin Bit is good, too

[Japhyfish]

Get the Grant Green CD "Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark" on Blue Note. Excellent collection of stuff. "It Ain't Necessarily So" has got to be one of the greatest solos - even Art Blakey is screaming for more in the background on that track!!

Also look for him as a sideman. Most of the Bluenote sessions with guitar, featured either Grant Green or Kenny Burrell.

[lazyjames]

I'll third the Green/Clark collection, amazing stuff. However, gotta say this: every time a thread pops up regarding "great guitarists with terrible tone," this is the first album that comes to mind.

[Robertito]

My favorite is "Green Street," the only recording he did with just guitar/bass/drums. Great lines, and still simple playing. Check it out.

[dlguitar64]

By far,my favorite Grant Green CD is "Solid" with Joe Henderson,James Spalding,McCoy Tyner,Elvin Jones and a bass player i can't remember at the moment.

[kingsleyd]

My favorite is "Green Street," the only recording he did with just guitar/bass/drums. Great lines, and still simple playing. Check it out.

There's also "Standards." Same deal.

[Poppa Stoppa]

Yes there was a point in time where GG changed from straightahead jazz to the one-chord funk stuff.

I prefer the earlier stuff and apart from those mentioned above my favourite is 'Grant's First Stand', which was about his first record on Blue Note. I like it because there are three tunes that are like a textbook for playing jazz-blues: Miss Ann's Tempo, Blues For Willarene, and Baby's Minor Lope. Sooo much to learn there about playing the blues changes and his timing and feel is surreal. The latter is an unbelievable workout over minor jazz blues, so different from major/dominant blues. What GG plays on that is mind blowing.

Another fabulous record is the 2-CD Up At Minton's where he's depping with Stanley Turrentine.

Also the 4-CD Grant Green boxed set is also very very good.

[ultrevex]

'Feeling The Spirit', 'Matador' and 'Idle Moments' are all great early 60s era Grant.

[WahmBoomAh]

"Talkin About" .. "I want to hold your hand" ... I love the stuff with Elvin and Larry Young

[porterburst]

My favorite Grant recordings are anything pre 1965.

[Average Joe]

I perfer Idle Moment, though all his straight jazz albums are good. IM have Joe henderson as a sideman, and it sound to me as if his precense pushed Green a bit.

[schultzvil]

As this thread already demonstrates, basically ALL the early Blue Note stuff is just without comparison. You really can't go wrong. Everyone can pick their favorites, but... you need all of it!
There was a box, Complete Blue Note Sixties Grant Green, which is a great way to get in to this era. If you dig it as much as we all do, you'll eventually get all the single discs, it's just essential.
And as Poppa Stoppa says, for studying jazz-blues, it just doesn't get any better. One I'd add is from a record that is actually under Horace Parlan's name, "Up And Down". On that disc is a 10 minute blues called "The Other Part Of Town". I'd rate this as one of the most devastating performances of blues on electric guitar ever.
Enjoy. Grant Green forever..

[jimfog]

Get the Grant Green CD "Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark" on Blue Note. Excellent collection of stuff. "It Ain't Necessarily So" has got to be one of the greatest solos - even Art Blakey is screaming for more in the background on that track!!


Don't know how I missed this thread. Guess I was in "time out"......

But, yeah.......the cd above is a stone KILLER.

Also, all the organ trio discs with Elvin and Larry Young. (Talkin ' Bout, Street of Dreams, I Want to Hold Your Hand)

and

Matador with McCoy, Cranshaw and Elvin....including a romp through "My Favorte Things"!! That takes balls.

and

Lee Morgan's Search for a New Land with Herbie, Wayne Shorter, Billy Higgins and Reggie Workman.

Really, everything is pretty much quality......it's just a matter of what style you're looking for.

[sixesandsevens]

From my very limited exposure, "Green Street" definitely gets you there.

Now if yall will please excuse me, I have some albums to look up. ;)

[erksin]

Anything from 1961-1965 should satisfy.

-4FNX5roBig

[Sub City]

The 2 CD set with Sonny Clark has the most standards and is stellar!

More modern, and highly recommended, are: Idle Moments, Matador, Search for the New Land. And Grant Stand, with Yusef Lateef, is KILLER!

[porterburst]

One of my all time favorite guitarists, Grant was one of the most melodic and tasteful players ever. His tone and phrasing just kills!


Here's some of my favorite tracks.


From Feelin" The Spirit"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6g0Th9gvUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6g0Th9gvUo)
"Deep River" One of my favorite Grant tracks.




From "Sunday Mornin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7EO5utzjks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7EO5utzjks)
"Exodus"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PohVcogENM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PohVcogENM)
"Come Sunrise"




Another favorite album is Idle moments. Just a masterpiece!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbEwVrDmlxk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbEwVrDmlxk)
"Idle Moments"


Enjoy!

[Phalanx200bc]

Aren't they all straight ahead..?

[Jon C]

Yes there was a point in time where GG changed from straightahead jazz to the one-chord funk stuff.

I prefer the earlier stuff and apart from those mentioned above my favourite is 'Grant's First Stand', which was about his first record on Blue Note. I like it because there are three tunes that are like a textbook for playing jazz-blues: Miss Ann's Tempo, Blues For Willarene, and Baby's Minor Lope. Sooo much to learn there about playing the blues changes and his timing and feel is surreal. The latter is an unbelievable workout over minor jazz blues, so different from major/dominant blues. What GG plays on that is mind blowing.

Another fabulous record is the 2-CD Up At Minton's where he's depping with Stanley Turrentine.

Also the 4-CD Grant Green boxed set is also very very good.

agree much w/ "Grant's First Stand" & what you say about it... :cool:

[sinner]

I like and own most all of the albums mentioned here. I just recently found this song:

"Falling in love with love" on Reaching Out (out-of-print CD but you can download it on iTunes). The whole album is killer.

9qZLmi-PFk0

5nG22Cg6eGc&feature=related

[porterburst]

I like and own most all of the albums mentioned here. I just recently found this song:

"Falling in love with love" on Reaching Out (out-of-print CD but you can download it on iTunes). The whole album is killer.

9qZLmi-PFk0

5nG22Cg6eGc&feature=related




I agree! Love his tone and playing on these tunes.

[gillman royce]

Standards, Idle Moments, most of the Blue Note stuff. Can't be more specific because I dubbed stuff over by which guitar/pup he recorded it on.

[schultzvil]

Here's that "most devastating blues on electric guitar" tune I mentioned a few posts back; "The Other Part Of Town" from Horace Parlan. Hang with it, for an incredible G.G. solo that just unfolds ...E1GAnyvGFbY

[StanG]

The rhythym section on the record above is also on some Stanley Turrentine albums-the afore mentioned Up at Mintons, and Let Go?. To my ears and taste, they have a great, interactive feel.

[StanG]

I recommend the early '60's Lou Donaldson releases that have Grant Green. Some deep down blues, mixed with some standards. To find all the good stuff, you have to delve into the sideman records. Amazon's search function, and mp3 downloads are a great resource to both learn what is out there and buy it, as a lot of the downloads are pretty cheap.

[Crazyquilt]

I can't add any more that hasn't already been suggested -- I personally love the quartets with Sonny Clark, Idle Moments, and Street of Dreams -- but thanks for all the suggestions of GG recordings I haven't yet discovered.

[Don P.]

I would recommend Baby Face Willette's "Stop And Listen" with Willette on organ, Ben Dixon on Drums, and Grant Green on guitar.

[Ryguy]

All the blue note stuff is great, but I think his most straight ahead bopish playing is on Ike Quebecs's Born to be Blue. Less blues, lots of standards. And he does a bunch of comping (super rare for him). And Stanley Turrentine's Up at Minton' is an absolute must have.

[dewey decibel]

As they said you're pretty good with anything up till the late '60s. Of course the organ based groups are going to be more funky/jammy, but even on those records there will usually be a couple standards. From there it's more about preference for rhythm sections. I agree his playing with Ike Quebec is the most interesting as he's playing a bit more of the traditional guitarists role, but it's really old standards sounding stuff. The Jimmy Forrest stuff is in a similar vein (although there's piano on that). I like the mid '60 Blue Note stuff myself- Idle Moments, Search For New Land, Solid, Let 'em Roll, etc.

[Jazz2Punk]

'Sunday Mornin' is a good one as well.

qgFSVXPTLlE

[GuitarPlaynTaylor]

Matador with McCoy, Cranshaw and Elvin....including a romp through "My Favorte Things"!! That takes balls.

This... and
One I'd add is from a record that is actually under Horace Parlan's name, "Up And Down". On that disc is a 10 minute blues called "The Other Part Of Town". I'd rate this as one of the most devastating performances of blues on electric guitar ever.

This. This cd also has booker ervin... Phenomenal sax player.

[porterburst]

This... and


This. This cd also has booker ervin... Phenomenal sax player.



Great album. Grant and Booker Evin's playing is amazing!

[porterburst]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75jVLUTZzP0
Wow, I love all these guys, but Grant just spokes.

[Cussion]

I love his "Feelin' the spirit" album.
Great 330 tone! The sound of the huge grand piano is fantastic as well.