Grant Green - Idle Moments

Guitarist Grant Green was introduced to Blue Note records' Alfred Lion by Lou Donaldson in 1960, and he went on to make 29 records for the label, the last in 1972. One of the most successful was Idle Moments (recorded in 1963, released in 1965).

With a lineup including Joe Henderson's tenor, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and pianist Duke Pearson, the standard of jazz was uniformly high. The title track by Pearson - who as Blue Note's A&R man, sometime producer and session musician and leader did much to shape the label's artistic direction in the 1960s - is a languid C minor track lasting for some 15 minutes. This was longer than producer Alfred Lion wanted, but despite shorter takes being recorded none matched the invention of the long take, and shorter versions of a couple of the other tracks were set down to accommodate Idle Moments on the LP.

One of Grant Green's inspirations was Charlie Parker (Green's style was essentially melodic rather than chordal) and the Idle Moments album is usually categorised  as Hard Bop. But the title track is so laid back that the description barely fits. Hutcherson's vibes adds a dreamlike  quality to the proceedings, and Henderson's breathy, almost whispering tenor tickles the ear. Splendid stuff! Enjoy . . .

Cartridge: Nagaoka MP-300 cartridge

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession

Turntable: Kenwood KD7010 direct drive turntable

Review from Allmusic.com:

This languid, seductive gem may well be Grant Green's greatest moment on record. Right from the opening bars of the classic title cut, Idle Moments is immediately ingratiating and accessible, featuring some of Green's most stylish straight jazz playing. Whether he's running warm (pianist Duke Pearson's "Idle Moments"), cool (the Modern Jazz Quartet's "Django"), or a bit more up-tempo (Pearson's "Nomad," his own "Jean de Fleur"), Green treats the material with the graceful elegance that was the hallmark of his best hard bop sessions, and that quality achieves its fullest expression here. He's helped by an ensemble that, as a sextet, is slightly larger and fuller-sounding than usual, and there's plenty of room for solo explorations on the four extended pieces. Pearson's touch on the piano is typically warm, while two players best known on Blue Note for their modernist dates mellow out a bit -- the cool shimmer of Bobby Hutcherson's vibes is a marvelously effective addition to the atmosphere, while Joe Henderson plays with a husky, almost Ike Quebec-like breathiness. That cushion of support helps spur Green to some of the loveliest, most intimate performances of his career -- no matter what the tempo, it's as if his guitar is whispering secrets in your ear. It's especially true on the dreamy title track, though: a gorgeous, caressing, near-15-minute excursion that drifts softly along like a warm, starry summer night. Even more than the two-disc set The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark, Idle Moments is the essential first Green purchase, and some of the finest guitar jazz of the hard bop era.

Grant Green

Joe Henderson

Bobby Hutcherson

Duke Pearson