By David Rickert
The RVG series started out as series of remastered versions of classic Blue Note sessions, but if this batch is any indication, the series is now a medium to reissue hard-to-find titles from previous elite editions. Arguably the strongest of the batches, these three recordings all had a brief shelf life in the nineties, and feature some of the labelÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs most notable artists.
Green Street
Grant Green
1961
Green Street is a rare trio outing for Grant Green, who at this point in his career usually worked with at least one other lead instrument in a quartet or quintet. In a pared-down setting that would make lesser guitarists fumble, Green is backed solely by bass and drums, a strategy that allows him the opportunity to display his improvisational gifts without the safety net of a piano or organ. Other guitarists who have worked this same terrain have relied on chords to fill up the empty space, but Green prefers to stick to crisp, single-note lines to create sprawling phrases and long series of variations on a single riff. All of these tunes clock in at over seven minutes and the fact that Green (who gets nearly all of the solo time) can maintain interest and novelty for so long points to his resourcefulness and creativity. The same guitar-bass-drums lineup is also featured on Standards, but Green Street is the better album of the two, mainly because Green is given more opportunity to dig into the bluesy licks he can play like no other and crafts a few nifty originals. Long gone as a Connoisseur title, Green Street is a welcome RVG Edition of an excellent guitarist in an unorthodox setting.
Leeway
Lee Morgan
1960
Like Green Street, Leeway is a long out-of-print Connoisseur. A quick glance at the line-up and date of this recording should tell you that this album yields no surprises. Morgan never strayed too far from the hard bop vein in any of his recordings, and the presence of Jackie McLean, one of the trumpeterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs most worthy foils, almost guarantees that their will be some high class blowing going on here. Instead of the usual five or six tunes, however, we get four, which allows the quintet to burn for extended periods of time, albeit at a slightly lower temperature than usual. Although MorganÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs bold, smooth figures contrast nicely with McLeanÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs more angular tendencies, neither seem particularly challenged by the material, which is standard blues and soul-tinged fare, and at times the two seems to be going through the motions instead of being energized. Both would go on to pursue more challenging and rewarding compositions in the future; Morgan extended the boundaries of hard bop with The Sidewinder and Search For the New Land and McLean fully delved into the avant-garde with Let Freedom Ring. For those who like their sixties Blue Note sessions cut and dry, Leeway wonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt disappoint. For those with a sampling of Morgan in their collection already, this CD is far from essential. HereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs hoping Search For the New Land gets the RVG treatment in the near future.
Roll Call
Hank Mobley
1960
All of Hank MobleyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs recordings generally work the same territory, and thus what makes each one special is the company he chooses to keep. Roll Call begins with a thunderous introduction courtesy of Art Blakey, always a sign of a high-powered session. However, the real highlight here is Freddie Hubbard, at this point still a young buck, who manages to tear the lid off everything he plays here. ThereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs no question that Mobley seems invigorated by the caliber of playing from the others, turning in some of his finest soloing (and compositions) on record. Despite the difference in the heads, everything eventually heads in the direction of a basic, bluesy groove (no doubt Kelly has something to do with this) resulting in some very tasty soloing. Surprisingly, Roll Call appeared briefly as part of the CollectorÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Choice series and then quickly disappeared. As one of the saxophonistÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs best sessions, it deserves to stay in print.
Grant Green-Green Street
Tracks: 1. No. 1 Green Street 2, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂRound About Midnight 3. GrantÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Dimensions 4. Green With Envy 5. Alone Together 6. Green With Envy (alt. take) 7. Alone Together (alt. take).
Personnel: Grant Green-guitar; Bon Tucker-bass; Dave Bailey-drums.
Lee Morgan-Leeway
Tracks: 1. These Are Soulful Days 2. The Lion and the Wolff 3. Midtown Blues 4. Nakatani Suite.
Personnel: Lee Morgan-trumpet; Jackie McLean-alto sax; Bobby Timmons-piano; Paul Chambers-bass; Art Blakey-drums.
Hank Mobley-Roll Call
Tracks: 1. Roll Call 2. My Groove Your Move 3. Take Your Pick 4. A Baptist Beat 5. The More I See You 6. The Breakdown 7. A Baptist Beat (alt. take).
Personnel: Hank Mobley-tenor sax; Freddie Hubbard-trumpet; Wynton Kelly-piano; Paul Chambers-bass; Art Blakey-drums.
