Alive!

by Grant Green

Product Description:

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Claude Bartee (tenor saxophone); William Bivens (vibraphone); Ronnie Foster, Neal Creque (organ); Idris Muhammad (drums); Joseph Armstrong (congas).

Producer: Francis Wolff.

Reissue producer: Bob Belden.

Recorded live at the Cliche Lounge, Newark, New Jersey on August 15, 1970. Originally released on Blue Note (84360). Includes liner notes by Stanley Dance and Bob Belden.

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Kurt Lundvall.

Recorded live in 1970 at the ClichT Lounge in Newark, New Jersey, ALIVE! is Grant Green at his funkiest. Often spurned by critics in his late period for selling out, Green churns out burning riffs and fiery solos on this date, regardless of style. Also making significant contributions to the date are the exceptional organists Neal Creque and Ronnie Foster, saxophonist Claude Bartee, vibraphonist William Bivens, and the irrepressible Idris Muhammad on drums. Whether its raging funk, dreamy Latin, or down-home soul, Green and his men perform with style and flare that is unsurpassed.

Many tracks will be familiar to listeners as the band covers a good many pop songs like Kool & The Gang's "Let The Music Take Your Mind" and the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing." While this may seem unforgivable to some, Green's stunningly expressive renditions of Creque's "Time To Remember" and Herbie Hancock's classic "Maiden Voyage" should dissuade all doubts as to where the music was coming from. Sadly, most tracks are faded out before the club's patrons applauded, but plenty of cheers were captured as individual band introductions were made. Indeed, applause was warranted as Green was still in command of his highly regarded style.