Customer Reviews

Am I Blue

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the weakest albums in the RVG series. The lineup is good on paper -- the organ trio of Green, Big John Patton and Ben Dixon (which made many excellent recordings in the early 60s) joined by Johnny Coles and mighty Joe Henderson on the front line. But in this case, good on paper translates into unremarkable in reality.

The slow and medium tempos here add up to a sleepy mood, with Green (and occasionally one of the other players) soloing over arrangements by Duke Pearson. There's not much interaction between the soloists and the rhythm section. Things only loosen up on the last track, a 14 minute jam that lifts the album out of its doldrums.

Am I Blue came right before the prime of Grant Green's career -- a one year span when he recorded Idle Moments, Matador, Solid, Talkin' About and Street of Dreams under his own name and played as a sideman on Larry Young's Into Somethin' and Lee Morgan's (stupendous) Search for the New Land. But I'd recommend listening to any of those other great albums before you buy this dud.

If you like Grant Green, you know what to expect from this album: a GREAT recording. Sure, it's not THAT unique from others around the time but it is by no means a bad album. There aren't any bonus tracks or alternate takes (like many of the other RVG remasters) but the album is impossible to find on vinyl so that's forgiveable; practically the only complaint I have with it. Don't be fooled by snobbery.

Solid late night electric jazz guitar trio entry, but nothing out of the ordinary and in fact a little more ordinary then other releases. The vibe can be predictably mellow, but there are enough sprinklings of integrity to make this as worthy a consideration.

I have been waiting for someone to review this one....but now I will not wait any longer.
The main impression you have when listening is.. kind of.. after hours..late nite..The mood throughout the session is very very relaxed.No weak tracks.. but the real highlight in my eyes is "For all we know".. taken in a medium swing tempo, everyone plays so well. For a while I almost thought it was John Pattons protege.. my buddy. Ed Landsberg that played the B3.. anyway...
the lineup is
Grant Green Guitar
John Patton Hammond B3
Johnny Coles Trumpet
Joe Henderson Tenor Sax
Ben Dixon Drums

Johnny Coles solo on "For all we know" is sooooooo good..and I have hardly heard John Patton play more relaxed and... boy... what he swings.
Green does not play one single note more than he need... that s were the beauty is in his playing... no waist notes.. no nothing...

I agree with the guy who said this was a "snoozer." The playing just sounds very uninspired to me. Much as I love Grant Green, I couldn't recommend this one. Fortunately, he put out so many great cd's that there are plenty of other good ones to choose from.

AM I BLUE features the classic Green/Patton/Dixon ensemble plus Johnny Cole and Joe Henderson on horns in a delightful yet unusually laid back vain. The gospel influence in John's playing is particularly evident on this recording, as is his minimalist philosophy. (If you don't have to play it, don't) Ironically, in his latter years, due to a strange accident with a car jack which would injure a tendon in his hand he would not have use of his pinky and fourth finger, yet could still create some of the richest and most amazing connections on the organ as well as develop very rich and lucid solo ideas ! The showstopper on the CD is the light and bouncy FOR ALL WE KNOW... Of course, Johnny Coles and a then newcomer and relatively unknown Joe Henderson definitely get their word in, but 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 be doing when his other bandmates are playing... not playing over them, or holding coversations, but listening and taking in the dialogue). Finally, Grant comes in and is as crisp, melodious and swinging and used expect him to be... throwing in a few surprise left hooks as well! - - Last word goes to John... who in turn not only takes a well crafted single note solo, but digs down with a real nifty shout chorus as well (though admittedly I will ever have to admit that Johnny Hammond Smith and Wild Bill will ever have him beat on that.) With Ben Dixon in his corner, however, he does take it home quite masterfully ! of note: That's the one thing that distinguishes a Grant Green session from one of those sessions where people are trying to copy such a session - - you can really tell the players are listening to each other, providing a lot of space and responding to one another's ideas! True Jazz masters are at their best not when they're showing off what they know... but when they're really listening and responding to what's going on around them. Then magic occurs, as was the historical case of John Coltrane's layer of sound discovery.