These Are Soulful Days

Benny Green | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 15, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00000J85T
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,358 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Always an effusive pianist with a relentlessly melodic approach, Benny Green celebrates Blue Note's 60th Anniversary by culling eight tunes from the label's back catalog and cutting loose with a drummerless trio that includes former cohorts Russell Malone on guitar and bassist Christian McBride. The harmonic rapport of Green and Malone is immediately apparent in their exacting unison lines to open Horace Silver's "Virgo," which also features McBride's resonant bow work. No longer a wunderkind, the 36-year-old Green solos with youthful intensity (check the dynamic force of "Bellarosa") but also showcases his ensemble maturity by shouldering some of the rhythmic duty and giving Malone ample space to explore a more kinetic side of his muse. Malone's chords, Green's left hand, and McBride's yeoman time-keeping provide plenty of percussive context. Saving the best for last, the trio returns to Silver for a bluesy "Come On Home" that inspires Malone into perhaps the most commanding uptempo passages of his career thus far. --Britt Robson

From Jazziz

As part of the celebration commemorating Blue Note's 60th year, pianist Benny Green chose his set list from original compositions by artists affiliated with the label's halcyon days. Smartly sidestepping any overplayed fare, Green's trio of guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride tackles tunes that have faded unjustifiably into relative obscurity. Reviving such finely tuned compositions as these serves as a reminder that a wealth of exquisite material exists beyond the realm of overplayed fake books. As tunes such as Joe Henderson's "Punjab," Horace Silver's "Come on Home," and Lee Morgan's "Hocus-Pocus" come alive again decades after their initial recording, Green takes them one step further with thoughtfully enhanced arrangements. Use of flashy guitar-piano unisons, plenty of stop time (emphasized with the lack of drums), and alternating two-beat/four-beat bass lines ensure optimal interpretation.

Members of this trio have excellent command of their respective instruments. Unfortunately, heavy chops can lead to pitfalls. Green's two-handed runs in octave unison (on Silver's "Virgo") and Malone's sixteenth-note bursts of double-time (on Calvin Massey's "These Are Soulful Days") - albeit amazing from a technical standpoint - border on grandstanding. McBride alone resists temptation to do likewise simply because he can. These fleeting moments aside, sparks fly throughout this exciting, well-played set. And as prime examples of taste and sensitivity, several beautiful ballads (Bobby Hutcherson's "Summer Nights," Dexter Gordon's "Ernie's Tune") receive spacious treatment, emphasizing the maturity that is already theirs.

--James Rozzi, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Right move Benny!, July 30, 2002

By 

stef (Genoa Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: These Are Soulful Days (Audio CD)

Here is a good example of a talented and intelligent "young" musician. Benny Green. But first of all this "new" trio is really cooking here; they play each track with the right spirit, with intensity, with the right intention. There is a terrific technique all around but not the will to show off. Music here, come first. Moreover I appreciate the will to rediscover and to explore tracks that are classics but not too known or too abused. As a matter of fact the whole cd display a sense of classicism and of innovation at the same time. Authors range from Horace Silver, to Lee Morgan, to Bobby Hutcherson, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Elmo Hope, fantastic Jazz authors, not only unbelievable musicians as they are commonly remembered. Playing again music from these authours is a damn right move in my opinion. Jazz history is full of gems which we can rediscover, and explore in their deepness. Jazz is not only standard tunes!! In the end I expecially love this trio format (piano, guitar, double bass): I find that this trio setting can express jazz at it's fullest, with a sound balance you can't find elsewhere. It's like having a small orchestra made only of stringed instruments. Recently I bought a record from three masters of this trio format: André Previn Joe Pass, Ray Brown. If you want to buy a good effort from three "young lions" you can buy this cd from Benny Green with confidence. But please, don't forget to buy a real article (P/P/B) too!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a great visit to blue note's past, July 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: These Are Soulful Days (Audio CD)

benny green takes a fun spin on the tried and true format of a standards album, here exploring the vaults of his own label, but in a new setting with the drumless trio. it is indeed a "soulful day!" green swings well, reminding me of oscar peterson, but with horace silver's bluesiness. it was kind of fun to go back through the original blue note sessions to find these gems and compare them to these. russell malone is a great guitarist and it is a treat to hear him continuing to develope and deepen his own voice on the instrument. christian mcbride is no slouch, either! dig his bow work on the opener! this is a fun album and leaves you wanting to play it again and again. i hope this trio comes back for another round!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like JAZZ, you must buy this CD, May 15, 2002

By 

Angel L. Maldonado Colon "almc224" (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: These Are Soulful Days (Audio CD)

This CD is one of the best Jazz Cd I have ever heard! The speed and rythum is extraodinary. The harmeny is like a Be bop that never seems to slow down. Virgo, Swift Brisk are like, follow me if you can! Bellarosa, These are Soulful Days, and Hocus Pocus just cook man, just cook. Summer Night and Ernie's Tune are a mellow walk in heaven. Punjab, is a Weather Report like Bill Evans mix. Come on Home is a Cat walk! A must Buy!!