GRANT GREEN: THE LATIN BIT

GRANT GREEN
Foi uma pena. A carreira de Grant Green poderia ter sido um pouco mais longa e prolífica se não fosse a heroína - sempre ela, que já havia causado estragos irreversíveis na vida dele, tal como nas de Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Billie Holliday - a lista é interminável. Alguns grandes músicos conseguiram sobreviver, conviver ou domar o vício: Art Pepper, Bill Evans, Joe Pass, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, dentre outros. Grant Green não conseguiu e encurtou sua carreira de grande guitarrista.
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Green was born on June 6, 1935 in St. Louis, MO. He first performed in a professional setting at the age of 12. His early influences were Charlie Christian and Charlie Parker, and he first played boogie-woogie before moving on to jazz. His first recordings in St. Louis were with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest for the Delmark label. The drummer in the band was Elvin Jones, later the powerhouse behind John Coltrane. Grant recorded with Elvin again in
the early Sixties. Lou Donaldson discovered Grant playing in a bar in St. Louis. After touring together with Donaldson, Grant arrived in New York around 1959-60. Lou Donaldson introduced Grant to Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records. Lion was so impressed with Grant that, rather than testing Grant as a sideman, as was the usual Blue Note practice, Lion arranged for him to record as a bandleader first. He often provided support to many of other great musicians on Blue Note. Grant was named best new star in the Down Beat critics' poll, 1962. As a result, his influence spread wider than New York. From 1967 to 1969 Grant was, for the most part, inactive due to personal problems and the effects of heroin addiction.
In 1969 Grant returned with a new funk-influenced band. Grant spent much of 1978 in hospital and, against the advice of doctors, went back on the road to earn some money. While in New York to play an engagement at George Benson's Breezin' Lounge, Grant collapsed in his car of a heart attack in New York City on January 31, 1979.
He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and was survived by six children.
(Source: Wikipedia - edited by CB)
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Grant Green, (1931-1979) fue uno de los guitarristas emblemáticos del jazz funk de los años sesenta y uno de los músicos emblemáticos del sello Blue Note en ese instrumento. Tras sus inicios en diversas formaciones de jazz y de rhythm and blues, el saxofonista, Lou Donaldson, le introdujo en el legendario sello azul como solista y también de acompañante de músicos importantes de la época además del propio Donaldson como fueron: Stanley Turrentine, Lee
Morgan, Herbie Hancok, o el organista, Jimmy Smith. Fue recisamente su habilidad para acompañar a diversos organistas de jazz como: Brother Jack McDuff, Sam Lazar, Baby Face Willette o la extraordinaria, Gloria Coleman, lo que le abrió las puertas de la fama en el jazz y le convirtió en un reputado instrumenstista.
Su estilo a la guitarra es de una solidez rotunda y en su sonido resuenan con nitidez los ecos del bebop, del blues y también del soul, en una rica amalgama siempre ingeniosa y eficaz de la que en los últimos años se han apropiado numerosos músicos de Rap o de acid jazz. Sus serios problemas con la droga truncaron rápidamente su carrera en losa años setenta falleciendo al final e aquélla década con solo 48 años de edad. Grabó a pesar de su corta
carrera mas de una veintena de discos a su nombre siendo el mas popular de ellos el titulado: "Idle Moments" grabado en 1963 para Blue Note.
(Source: http://www.apoloybaco.com/grantgreenbiografia.htm)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: A primeira faixa do álbum é um dos hinos do latin-jazz, 'MAMBO INN', do grande Mário Bauzá, sucesso mundial na gravação de George Benson. Bastante curiosas as releituras
de Aquarela do Brasil (BRAZIL) e Tico-tico no fubá (TICO TICO). Tudo muito bom mas muito comercial pro meu gosto. Pessoalmente, não considero Grant Green um guitarrista do primeiro time. Na frente dele escalo Tal Farlow, Sal Salvador, Mundell Lowe, Barney Kessel, Pat Martino, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, Helinho Delmiro, Heraldo do Monte e - prá mim, o mais importantes de todos esses: um certo senhor chamado GEORGE VAN EPS,
que tocava violão de 7 cordas. Conhecem?
(CB)
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GRANT GREEN: THE LATIN BIT

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Mambo Inn
2. Besame Mucho
3. Mama Inez
4. Brazil
5. Tico Tico
6. My Little Suede Shoes
7. Blues for Juanita
8. Grenada
9. Hey There

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