Blue Note Classic Series

• pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal
• mastered from the original master tapes

Grant Green’s Blue Note output was prolific through the early-60s producing more than 20 hard bop and soul jazz sessions as a leader for the label between 1961-1965. By the time the guitarist returned to the label in 1969 his musical style had evolved to embrace jazz-funk and R&B as heard on his albums Carryin’ On and Green Is Beautiful. After two searing live recording dates—Alive! and Live at Club Mozambique—Green returned to Van Gelder Studio in 1971 to record Visions.

Joining the guitarist were Billy Wooten, Emmanuel Riggins, Chuck Rainey, Idris Muhammad, and Ray Armando and Harold Caldwell. Green’s distinctive tone and melodicism elevate this varied program which includes interpretations of radio hits by Chicago (“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”), The Carpenters (“We’ve Only Just Begun”), and the Jackson 5 (“Never Can Say Goodbye”), as well as a surprising reinvention of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor. Other highlights of the set include the jazz-funk workout “Cantaloupe Woman” and an achingly beautiful rendition of Quincy Jones’ “Maybe Tomorrow,” which was later sampled on Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 track “Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst” from Good Kid, m.A.A.d City.

PERSONNEL:

Grant Green - (guitar)
Emanuel Riggins - (electric piano)
Chuck Rainey - (electric bass)
Billy Wooten - (vibes)
Ray Armando - (congas)
Idris Muhammad - (drums)
Harold Cardwell - (drums, percussion)
Ray Armando - (congas)

TRACKS:

A1: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
A2: Maybe Tomorrow
A3: Mozart Symphony #40 In G Minor, K550, 1st Movement
A4: Love On A Two Way Street

B1: Cantaloupe Woman
B2: We've Only Just Begun
B3: Never Can Say Goodbye
B4: Blues For Abraham