Grant Green Quartet with Sonny Clark

The simplest definition of jazz at my disposal is blues based with swing.  You won't find a better example than the two disc release of the Grant Green Quartet with Sonny Clark.  I love the very idea of this kind of package.  In early '62 guitar master Green and pianist Clark went into Ruddy Gelder's studio with Sam Jones on bass and Art Blakey on drums.  Much as I love horns, it was good to get them out of the way on this occasion.  

Jazz history has more than its share of tragedies.  Blue Note kept this music in the can until after both Green and Clark were gone.  I won't pass judgment.  Business is business.  This music is fundamental.  You could put it next to Gerry Mulligan's Original Quartet, with Sonny Rollins' Village Vanguard recordings on the other side, and no one would be uncomfortable.  

Here is a sample.  

Grant Green with Sonny Clark/It Ain't Necessarily So/Complete Quartets

You gotta love that Blue Note cover image. 

Back to Jack

I have been posting on a lot of edgy jazz in recent weeks. How about a taste of something squarely in the middle of page four and as solid and nourishing as a good pot of stew. Here is one that was recorded a few weeks before I was born at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack. Maybe that sentence was confusing. I wasn't born in Van Gelder's studio, though that would make for a great story! It's Jackie McLean on also sax, with John Jenkins (also on alto) Wade Legge (p) Doug Watkins (b) Art Taylor (d). The info comes from the wonderful Jazz Discography Project, which is one of the things that keeps up my faith in jazz. Someone took the time to do this!

Jackie McLean/The Lady is A Tramp/Alto Madness

It can be had for pennies from eMusic. McLean was an authentic hardbop hero. I seem to recall Ken Laster honoring his passing back in 2006.

Here's a nice video clip of the McLean Quintet doin' Sonny Clark's 'Cool Strutin'.