As I stated once before, I heard Grant Green when he was playing for "Grant Green" and nobody else. This was in St. Louis before Blue Note even heard of him. Although I was too young to be in an establishment that sold alcoholic beverages, I was tall, and wore a hat to look older. Anywhere there was live jazz, me and my high school buddies could be found. When we heard that Grant Green was playing at a club that we often passed by, you bet; we were there.
That was a long time ago, and my memory is not so good that I remember who was playing with him, or even if he had anyone playing with him. Since there was no admission, the club was packed, standing room only. That was just fine for us, because we were underage, and no one would notice this in a packed dimly lit nightclub. What I do remember is the sound of his guitar, and him; lean Grant Green with a head full of thick black hair, half standing, half leaning against a high bar stool. He was more playing to himself, than he was to the crowd of people. They were just like me and my buddies; we couldn't get enough of Grant Green's jazz guitar; all I ever heard him play was boss jazz; I can close my eyes and still hear them licks ringing in my ears. Every time he struck a note, it came ringing off that guitar like a rifle bullet, and penetrated your musical mind. Not before, not since, has anyone struck notes that rung like his.
I was listening to Grant Green before Blue Note ever heard of "Grant Green", and he was playing some boss "jazz guitar" then; how could he have been playing some kind of "Sub-Standard" jazz that was not fit for release after that time? Now I find that his records that were not released, (which were supposedly sub-standard) were the best that he ever made; the question is WHY?
I just received a CD titled "His Majesty King Funk" and Grant is striking some "Boss Jazz" licks even on this album. The organ is in the "funk" groove, but Grant's guitar is still striking some boss jazz licks. I got it posted here so you don't have to take my word for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dce3qcQ6qeEI heard the man when he was playing for himself, we all knew Grant, he didn't have to impress us; he was playing what he felt, and it came out in those ringing notes.
Although I have a lot of Grant Green CD's, the question arose in my mind, "Why don't I have Grant Green records"? I love jazz guitar, and I've got a lot of Kenny Burrell records, why don't I have Grant Green records? The reason I don't have Grant Green records is because they were not released.
Enjoy the music.
