This bang-up guitarist recorded inward a diverseness of settings in addition to concepts during his years at Blue Note. Am I Blue featured the perennial trio of Green, organist John Patton in addition to drummer Ben Dixon alongside the trumpet of Johnny Coles in addition to the tenor saxophone of newcomer Joe Henderson.
What makes this album hence odd inward Green's canon is that the entire album is inward a soulful, atmospheric ballad groove. The cloth ranges from the blues ballad "Sweet Slumber" to the province vocal "Take These Chains From My Heart", exactly the later on hours mood that these men create is never broken. This is the showtime appearance of this album on CD.
AM I BLUE features the classic Green/Patton/Dixon ensemble addition Johnny Cole in addition to Joe Henderson on horns inward a delightful yet unusually seat dorsum vain. The gospel influence inward John's playing is peculiarly evident on this recording, every bit is his minimalist philosophy. (If yous don't conduct keep to play it, don't) Ironically, inward his latter years, due to a foreign accident alongside a motorcar jack which would hurt a tendon inward his manus he would non conduct keep purpose of his pinky in addition to quaternary finger, yet could silent create some of the richest in addition to virtually amazing connections on the organ likewise every bit educate real rich in addition to lucid solo ideas ! The showstopper on the CD is the low-cal in addition to bouncy FOR ALL WE KNOW... Of course, Johnny Coles in addition to a in addition to hence newcomer in addition to relatively unknown Joe Henderson definitely teach their give-and-take in, exactly it is amazing to hear John's passing chords behind them. Grant Green typically lays out, listening, listening, listening, listening (which is what a soloist needs to hold upwards doing when his other bandmates are playing... non playing over them, or belongings coversations, exactly listening in addition to taking inward the dialogue). Finally, Grant comes inward in addition to is every bit crisp, melodious in addition to swinging in addition to used facial expression him to be... throwing inward a few surprise left hooks every bit well! - - Last give-and-take goes to John... who inward plough non alone takes a good crafted unmarried regime annotation solo, exactly digs downward alongside a existent nifty cry chorus likewise (though admittedly I volition always conduct keep to acknowledge that Johnny Hammond Smith in addition to Wild Bill volition always conduct keep him musical rhythm out on that.) With Ben Dixon inward his corner, however, he does conduct keep it domicile quite masterfully ! of note: That's the 1 affair that distinguishes a Grant Green session from 1 of those sessions where people are trying to re-create such a session - - yous tin actually nation the players are listening to each other, providing a lot of infinite in addition to responding to 1 another's ideas! True Jazz masters are at their best non when they're showing off what they know... exactly when they're actually listening in addition to responding to what's going on around them. Then magic occurs, every bit was the historical example of John Coltrane's layer of audio discovery.
If yous similar Grant Green, yous know what to facial expression from this album: a GREAT recording. Sure, it's non THAT unique from others around the fourth dimension exactly it is past times no agency a bad album. There aren't whatever bonus tracks or alternate takes (like many of the other RVG remasters) exactly the album is impossible to respect on vinyl hence that's forgiveable; practically the alone electrical load I conduct keep alongside it. Don't hold upwards fooled past times snobbery.
Track listing:
"Am I Blue" (Harry Akst, Grant Clarke) - 6:56
"Take These Chains from My Heart" (Hy Heath, Fred Rose) - 6:12
"I Wanna Be Loved" (Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Billy Rose) - 7:39
"Sweet Slumber" (Lucky Millinder, Al J. Neiburg, Henri Woode) - 7:17
"For All We Know" (J. Fred Coots, Sam M. Lewis) - 13:59
Personnel:
Grant Green - guitar
Johnny Coles - trumpet
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
"Big" John Patton - organ
Ben Dixon - drums
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