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A friend on Twitter once said, “Sundays are for jazz” - So Sunday morning, I put on one of my favorites. Seen as one of the great guitar players in jazz music, Grant Green slowly started to gain a reputation on the Blue Note label, and truly came into his own on his second official release. Three of the five songs are originals while the others are classic. It’s perfect jazz for coffee and the newspaper. It’s Green Street and it’s today’s feature on I Own That CD!
The way Green plays in the lead and with his fantastic rhythm section (Ben Tucker on bass and Dave Bailey on drums) is nothing short of brilliant. The opener, “No. 1 Green Street” is a straight-head, up-tempo track that glides along. His guitar takes you for a jazz journey.
Green is known best for his hardbop and bebop styles and while he had a few guitar influencers, his primary influences were saxophonists, especially Charlie Parker.
Hi stake on the jazz standard “Round About Midnight” is smooth and silky. With such a minimalist approach from his rhythm section, it allows Green to shine bright on this track.
My favorite on Green Street is “Grant’s Dimensions”, a swinging track. It’s a jam that Green shares with his band beautifully, including a sweet bass solo.
Still emerging as an individualist, Green takes further steps ahead, without a pianist, saxophonist, or -- most importantly -- an organist.
The amazing thing about Green and this album - it was one of six he recorded in 1961 on the Blue Note label. Add to it the session work he did…To me, he’s the most underrated jazz guitar player out there. I love Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, but Green remains my favorite and Green Street is his finest moment. You can borrow my CD if you’d like.
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