About

In Spring 1964, guitarist Grant Green recorded two blazing post-bop albums—Matador and Solid—both of which would go unreleased for more than a decade as Blue Note instead decided to release the guitarist’s organ-based soul jazz outings of the time. Green had hinted at this post-bop direction on his 1963 masterpiece Idle Moments, and for the Matador session assembled a quartet with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and Elvin Jones. 

A month later Green returned to Van Gelder Studio and expanded the band to a state-of-the-art sextet with the addition of tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and alto saxophonist James Spaulding. The high-octane set kicks into gear right from the jump on Duke Pearson’s “Minor League” and burns through George Russell’s hard-charging “Ezz-Thetic” with other highlights including Green’s evocative “Grant’s Tune,” the Sonny Rollins blues “Solid,” and an emphatic version of Henderson’s “The Kicker.”

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. — (via Label)

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Solid is a companion piece to the Grant Green classic Matador, recorded about a month later with the same rhythm section, and also not issued until 1979. Green is once again accompanied by the Coltrane supporting team of pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones, plus bassist Bob Cranshaw; this time, however, Green is also joined on the front line by James Spaulding on alto sax and Joe Henderson on tenor. 

Both saxophonists really seem to light a fire under the proceedings, for in comparison with the relatively subdued Matador, Solid is a bright, hard-charging affair. There's a little modal jazz, but Solid's repertoire is chiefly complex hard bop, full of challenging twists and turns that the players burn through with enthusiasm. Green didn't tackle this kind of material - or play with this kind of group - very often, and it's a treat to hear him do so on both counts. 

The compositions - highlighted by Duke Pearson's "Minor League," Henderson's "The Kicker," and a storming, ten-minute exploration of George Russell's "Ezz-Thetic" - provoke some intricate improvisations from Green, and his perfectly controlled soloing is an interesting contrast with the passionate Spaulding and Henderson. Tyner and Jones are once again telepathic in their support, elevating the whole package to one of Green's strongest jazz outings and a unique standout in his catalog. — (via AllMusic)

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Label: Blue Note 
Series: Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2025 / Original: 1979
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop

File under: Jazz // Blue Note Records
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