connoisseur series500 Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 "Easy" has recently been reissued. It's one of Green's later releases. Personally, although I have tried several of Green's later sessions, I haven't liked anything released past "Carryin On." Has anyone heard "Easy?" And if so, what do you think of it. Worth picking up? Quote
Jazzdog Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 "Easy" has recently been reissued. It's one of Green's later releases. Personally, although I have tried several of Green's later sessions, I haven't liked anything released past "Carryin On." Has anyone heard "Easy?" And if so, what do you think of it. Worth picking up? It's schmaltzy, commercial crud. I would do best to stay away. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 This is a piece of crap. Only for completists and masochists. Quote
Joe G Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 Well Paul, I guess that's your answer! Poor Grant... Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 3, 2003 Author Report Posted October 3, 2003 Thanks everyone and I guess I'm not surprised. I can think of no other example of a jazz musician who went downhill as rapidly as Grant Green did in his later years. Though suffering from health problems, Woody Shaw still made great music. Grant came back into recording after a decade or so and was a shadow. So sad. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 What about Larry Young? His last records for Arista are horrid. Such a shame. If either of them had lived to see the organ revival we'd have ourselves some BAD shit on disc today. Quote
bertrand Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 But, fortunately, the Arista dates are NOT our last glimpse at Larry Young. There is also Double Exposure, the 1977 duets album with Joe Chambers. Larry is not the leader, but he plays some very nice things on this. Bertrand. Quote
JSngry Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 What's THIS alleged Green album? I've never heard of it. Quote
Swinging Swede Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 A reissue of Easy apparently. It has the same tracks. Quote
Ed S Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 I had a lot of trouble accepting Grant Green's music from his second stint with Blue Note - especially knowing how great his recording were for the label earlier in the 60s. But after repeated listenings to this material and other Rare Grooves from the era, it started to click. I enjoy them for what they are and think they're pretty good example of jazz/soul/funk of the time. I saw Easy in a record store several years ago and figured it was more of the same. It ain't. You can tell it's Grant Green from the way he can play a melody, but the sound of his guitar is totally different - very Wes like. The songs are lame and the arrangements lamer. Schmaltzy, commercial crud as it was referred to above is pretty accurate. Two of the songs are by Lionel Ritchie - 'nuf said. There are a few decent moments but it's not worth subjecting yourself to the majority of the material to get to it. In fact, after hearing this thing you might actually think that Green is the father of smooth jazz. The same can be said for the Main Attraction as well. Quote
Matthew Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 Man, you guys a full-of-it! Dusty Groove Records has this to say about Easy: Grant Green's last session as a leader -- and although the tracks are a bit slicker than earlier work, the album's still pretty darn nice! The tunes are long in a CTI-type funky jazz mode, with arrangements by Mario Sprouse, and a nice little Latin feel to some of the best numbers! You see, the Dusty Groove reviewer call it "Darn Nice", what more do you want. Quote
Ed S Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 Matthew - I think you just broke the dustygroove code. "Darn nice"= Schmaltzy, commercial crud. B) Quote
Jazzdog Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 Funny thing about this disc IIRC... Dosen't the cover depict a train wreck? Or is this just my imagination? Quote
Ed S Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 The cover of mine has some rusted old hulk of a steam locomotive sittin' in a train yard. Equally appropriate. Quote
Jazzdog Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 Hmmm...I found that album in a bin somewhere for two bucks...totally excited. Paid for it, took it home and took it off almost as quickly. I gave the disc another spin a few years later, and I was suprised to find out that the place that sold it to me, would buy it back for about .10. I really didn't mind, but I would have thrown the damn thing in the garbage. This totally scared me off from buying anything by GG that wasn't on Blue Note. Quote
bertrand Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 Re: the Lionel Ritchie comment. Saxophonist Bootsie Barnes does a very lovely version of 'Hello' on his album of the same name. So you never know. Quote
Ed S Posted October 5, 2003 Report Posted October 5, 2003 It's true that you can make lemonade from lemons. I guess this just underscores the fact that Green et al were just goin' through the motions on Easy. Quote
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