Solid is a companion slice to the Grant Green classic Matador, recorded most a calendar month afterwards alongside the same musical rhythm section, too every bit good non issued until 1979. Green is 1 time once again accompanied past times the Coltrane supporting squad of pianist McCoy Tyner too drummer Elvin Jones, addition bassist Bob Cranshaw; this time, however, Green is every bit good joined on the front end draw past times James Spaulding on alto sax too Joe Henderson on tenor. Both saxophonists actually appear to lite a give notice nether the proceedings, for inwards comparing alongside the relatively subdued Matador, Solid is a bright, hard-charging affair.
There's a piffling modal jazz, but Solid's repertoire is chiefly complex difficult bop, amount of challenging twists too turns that the players give notice through alongside enthusiasm. Green didn't tackle this sort of fabric -- or play alongside this sort of grouping -- really often, too it's a process to listen him produce too so on both counts. The compositions -- highlighted past times Duke Pearson's "Minor League," Henderson's "The Kicker," too a storming, ten-minute exploration of George Russell's "Ezz-Thetic" -- provoke about intricate improvisations from Green, too his perfectly controlled soloing is an interesting contrast alongside the passionate Spaulding too Henderson. Tyner too Jones are 1 time once again telepathic inwards their support, elevating the whole bundle to 1 of Green's strongest jazz outings too a unique standout inwards his catalog. [Oddity: the CD bonus rail "Wives too Lovers" seems to last the same 1 included on Matador, where it was a amend fit.]
Grant Green's burning single-note lines out-swung most horn players. In the 1960s, Grant Green was the Blue Note guitarist. He could jam soulfully alongside organ combos, play bebop alongside the best, too dig into the most adventurous jazz on Blue Note acre sounding perfectly at home. Solid, a memorable jewel from 1964, remarkably went unreleased past times Blue Note for xv years because at that topographic point were too so many other Grant Green recordings at the time.
Green is purpose of a shockingly brilliant sextet (Joe Henderson, James Spaulding, McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw too Elvin Jones) performing music worthy of their talents including George Russell's "Ezz-Thetic" too Henderson's "The Kicker." The playing is amount of surprises, the musical rhythm department displays telepathic interplay, too Grant Green shows inwards every soulful complaint that he was a guitar giant.
The alternative Minor League is a classic Blue Note composition, alongside instant recognition of the Blue Note sound. “The caput gives off that actually hip, quartal harmony that actually rose to prominence inwards the 60’s. “The potent brass presence every bit good eliminates whatever lingering trouble organisation it mightiness last simply a guitar album. Joe Henderson!
Green has a soul-jazz feeling on Solid, soft warm tone inwards unison alongside the brass, at times sounding to a greater extent than Hammond B3 than guitar, fluid linear melodic exploration of the compositions. He has an odd pairing of horns – Joe Henderson’s gruff tenor alongside James Spaulding’s vivid alto. Henderson has a hard, fractious tone, his athletic figures roofing the entire register of the tenor, acre Spaulding does a credible project simply asset his own.
Tyner contributes characteristically elegant sweeping forms, left paw chopping accents against the correct hand’s fluid exploration of the upper keys. Elvin Jones to a greater extent than than hints at the ability below, punishing the ride cymbal to grade time. (Jones is a mixed approbation on Green albums. Here he is good controlled, but on Matador – Bedouin, he treats us to a long too out-of-place drum solo – the type which clears the auditorium too fills the bar). As always, the bass is the forgotten hero, Bob Cranshaw modestly asset everyone together.
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Track listing:
1. "Minor League" (Pearson) – 7:05
2. "Ezz-Thetic" (Russell) – 10:41
3. "Grant's Tune" (Grant Green) – 7:01
4. "Solid" (Rollins) – 7:23
5. "The Kicker" (Henderson) – 6:23
6. "Wives too Lovers" (Bacharach, David) – 9:00 Bonus rail on CD reissue, from Matador
Personnel:
Grant Green - guitar
James Spaulding - alto saxophone (tracks 1-5)
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone (tracks 1-5)
McCoy Tyner - piano
Bob Cranshaw - bass
Elvin Jones - drums
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