Grant Green - Matador

A brilliant 1964 quartet session with McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. Green cooks from first note to last with some of his purest jazz playing. Album Description

Grant's Greatest

Another "cool jazz" classic by the talented Mr. Green. This was Grant's best effort from his traditional jazz years which ran thru the mid 60's, before he started to experiment with soul, funk, and bebop later in his career. Standouts from the album include "My Favorite Things" & "Bedouin".
Grant was probably the most under-appreciated jazz artist to ever record an album. Since his untimely death at the age of 43, he has slowly begun to attract the critical accaim he deserved. The evolution of "acid jazz" in the 90's, also lead a resurgence of younger fans as Grant's music was very popular in the genre. December 28, 2008

If Only This Was Part Of The Van Gelder Series!

This is a terrific album and really is in the top 5 of Grant Green albums. Elvin Jones's polyrhythmic madness amazes me and Green is an unsung jazz guitar virtuoso.
Trouble is, its like an outcast. Its not been newly remastered, it still retains the old Blue Note packaging and its not part of the exclusive Rudy Van Gelder series which it must be part of! Some would say thats good, others not, and it still has a good sound nonetheless but it just feels old and left behind.
Thats my only complaint: the packaging isn't new but it doesn't matter. The music is fantastic! Get it if you like really cool tunes, jazz guitar or just jazz in general! July 25, 2008

Unsung Hero

I find Jazz, as a genre, difficult to review. I mean I know why I like a Jazz CD, but getting that over into the written word, especially as I am far from a Jazz critic per se, has proved difficult to me over the years. But I couldn't let the chance of not expressing my delight in this CD pass by, so please excuse my ignorant with regard jazz terms and icons. The first reason why I was drawn to Mr. Grant Green, is, after reading his bio, he seems a un heard of name. I mean I have heard of Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and the like, but not Mr. Green. Upon discovering him, I choose this 1965 release to start my education. And what a education it is. As one of my fellow reviewers mentions else where it sounds like he is singing on his guitar playing. You can hear that most clearly on 'Matador'. I feel he was brave to want to venture onto a song that Mr. Coltrane had his own 'My favorite Things. I'll leave it up to you to decide if it holds it's own, but being a Jazz guitar lover, over the saxophone, I must say I prefer the version on offer here.
Things continue in the same vein with' Green Jeans', and 'Bedouin'. Words can't describe the beauty, at least not this reviewer, but trust me here's an artist in full control of his art. If that's not all, we also have the pleasure of the bonus cut 'Wives and Lovers'.
Mr. Green has remained in the shadows of the aforementioned jazz greats (especially Mr. Montgomery) and died in obscurity in 1979, at the age of 43, after battling a drug problem for many years, but left a body of work that all lovers of the jazz guitar should check out & see that he truly was the unsung hero of his generation. This is an excellent place to start. I doubt that you'll be disappointed
January 1, 2008

Powerful music.

At the risk of sounding silly...

This album can be likened to those oriental paintings of fierce dragons weaving in and out of the clouds.

It sounds to me like the musicians are riding the same energy and translating it back through their instruments. Of course these guys are great musicans but on this date the music was(is) way greater than the individuals. July 5, 2006

Grant Green's Best

This cd and "Solid" are two of Grant Green's best cd's. Both were recorded with Coltrane's rhythm section, and both are classics. On this one, Grant does his own rendition of "My Favorite Things," and it's great. If you like jazz guitar, this is a must have cd! October 24, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...