For the Funk of It

by Grant Green

Product Description:

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Cornell Dupree (guitar); George Marge, John Leone, Phil Bodner, Romeo Penque (woodwinds); Claude Bartee (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman, Joe Wilder, Victor Paz, Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Sedlar (trumpet); Jimmy Buffington (French horn); Harry Divito (trombone); Dick Hickson (bass trombone); Emanuel Riggins (electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Clarence Palmer (electric piano); Richard Tee, Shelton Laster (organ); Gary Coleman, Billy Wooten, Willie "Yambo" Bivens (vibraphone); Chuck Rainey, Gordon Edwards, Jimmy Lewis, Wilton Felder (bass guitar); Grady Tate, Greg Williams, Idris Muhammad, Stix Hooper (drums); Bobbye Porter Hall (congas, percussion); Candido Camero (congas); Richard Landrum (bongos); George Devens, King Errisson, Ralph McDonald, Ray Armando (percussion).

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; Lighthouse Cafe, Hermosa Beach, California (1969 - 1971).

Blue Note's compilation series of guitarist Grant Green's output during his last years at the label provides a valuable service in collecting the best of this material on economical, well-sequenced sets. FOR THE FUNK OF IT, the second installment of the three-volume series, is less loud and nasty than AIN'T IT FUNKY NOW, and not quite as laid-back as MELLOW MADNESS. Instead, FOR THE FUNK OF IT falls somewhere between these extremes, offering up a set of delectable, cool-toned soul-jazz jams that feature Green's classy, fluid fretwork amid a sea of percolating grooves.

The personnel on these sessions--including drummer Idris Muhammad, vibraphonist Willie Bivens, saxophonist Claude Bartee, and organist Emmanuel Riggen, among others--keeps everything simmering and in-the-cut. Green's "Upshot" kicks off the set in an uptempo boogaloo, with the loose-limbed funk of "The Final Comedown" and the sprightly groove-pop of "Cantaloupe Woman" augmenting the vibe. Green offers another composition with the blues-based sway of "California Green" (featuring a large ensemble that includes French horn, bass trombone, and woodwinds), before boogaloo surfaces again with "Flood in Franklin Park." A strong, thoroughly enjoyable set, VOLUME TWO helps cement Green's reputation as one of the finest soul-jazz players of the era.