First Session

Product Description:

FIRST SESSION contains all previously unreleased tracks.

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Sonny Clark, Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers, Butch Warren (bass); Philly Joe Jones, Billy Higgins (drums).

Producer: Alfred Lion.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on November 16, 1960 and October 27, 1961. Includes liner notes by Bob Belden.

Digitally remastered by Ron McMaster.

This is part of Blue Note's Limited Edition Connoisseur series.

At the recommendation of saxophonist Lou Donaldson, guitarist Grant Green from St. Louis was signed to Blue Note in 1960. For Green's first outing as a leader, Alfred Lion assembled Miles Davis's former rhythm section for what was sure to be a stellar session. However, to Lion's ears anyway, the day was not as fruitful as he had hoped. But for those with a keen ear for Green's stylish guitar work, it is fortunate that the label has finally seen fit to release the session after more than 40 years.

The trio of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones in the era of this recording was infallible. They swing hard, support the soloist tastefully, and are tighter than a turtle's belly button. Green, for his first time out as a solo star, plays confidently and oozes with blues-drenched style. What, then, could have been wrong? We may never know. Luckily, Green fans can now judge for themselves after all this time. Also included are two takes of the classic "Woody 'N' You" from a year later with the ace rhythm team of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins.