Big BandMosaic Select: Bennie Green (MS-003)
Mosaic Select
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“His execution is clearly defined, non-exhibitionistic and liberally impregnated with the devices and characteristic phrasing of the be-bop style, yet he always manages to retain something of the real jam session atmosphere." - Raymond Horricks |
Initially influenced by Trummy Young, trombonist Bennie Green hit the big leagues as a member of Earl Hines’ orchestra in 1942, where he developed a close relationship with emerging bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie. He absorbed the expanding harmonies of bop without forsaking his big, rich natural trombone sound. Whether he was in Ellington’s band or Charlie Ventura’s Bop For The People combo, he sounded like…well, Bennie Green.
In the early fifties, Bennie found success as a band leader, playing what he liked: a joyful mix of jump tunes, blues, ballads and standards with a Latin tinge. Hit singles like “Blow Your Horn” and “I Wanna Blow” made him a popular jukebox artist of the day.
STRETCHING OUT .
As the fifties progressed, the long-playing album became an important medium for a musician charged with keeping a band working. With roots in both swing and bop, Green had no trouble stretching out and sustaining interest on any musical piece. In 1958, he signed with Blue Note and made three impressive albums (Back On The Scene, Soul Stirrin’ and Walkin’ & Talkin’) as well as a singles session.
With Soul Stirrin’, the trombonist made his masterpiece. The presence of two tenors (Gene Ammons and Billy Root), the creative accompaniment of Sonny Clark, Ike Isaacs and Elvin Jones and the hypnotic compositions of Green and Babs Gonzales created a unique and often haunting sound. In 1962, this instrumentation was reprised with equally stunning results on Ike Quebec’s Congo Lament with Green, Stanley Turrentine, Clark, Milt Hinton and Art Blakey.
All four of Bennie Green’s dates plus the Quebec session are in this Mosaic Select set which also includes Charlie Rouse, Eddy Williams, Gildo Mahones, George Tucker and Louis Hayes among the sidemen.
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Track Listing, Personnel & Recording Dates »
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This Select |
| This Select won't knock your socks off, but real good bands and satisfying. | |
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Surprise |
| A real surprise. Not knowing much about Green I took a chance, and now this select has become one of my favorites. No big egos here, just excellent bands playing beautifully together. | |
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Yes he was |
| Bennie Green was the real deal, and the bands are excellent. Bluesy music with soul. | |
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I cried . . . . . |
| when I listened to "You're Mine, You." | |
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A Pleasure |
| Musicians do seem to enjoy playing with Bennie Green. He seems to bring out the best in everyone! In short, the rapport of these bands is a pleasure to listen to again and again. | |
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Steak and Potatoes |
| Solid steak and potatoes, mainstream jazz. Bennie Green has a rich, full, bluesy sound. The rhythm sections are good throughout (check out the list of big names, Paul Chambers, Milt Hinton, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey etc.) and with the likes of Gene Ammons, Charlie Rouse, and Stanley Turrentine it's difficult to imagine that much could go wrong and not much does. One of the best parts of this set is Sonny Clark's soulful piano. With Bennie Green and Sonny Clark as the core of these bands, this is a very consistent and satisfying set. | |
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Forgotten Trombone Master Rediscovered |
| Bennie Green was one of the most tasteful and inventive trombone players of the 1950's. He infused alot of humor and soul into his music. The Blue Note sides are his most consistently successful albums. His music far surpasses that of many of his contemporaries, yet how many jazz fans have heard of Bennie Green? This is one of those overlooked gems from the Blue Note vault. | |
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Just buy them all ! |
| I recently started on my Mosaic Select journey. And it's the best decision I made in a long time. My only advice : just buy them, even if you're not that familiar with the material. I wasn't with Bennie Green, but this is great stuff. His version of "That's all" is worth buying the set for ! Mosaic does a great job at re-issuing long forgotten and/ore none-available jazz-legends. | |
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Only so-so. |
| The music here is okay, but not better than that. Charlie Rouse and Sonny Clark have some typically strong performances, but lots of the music here is fairly forgettable. | |
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Excellent set |
| This is a very pleasurable and enjoyable set of music, except for the Babs Gonzales vocals which I find unbearable. On the whole, this is a very worthwhile piece to add to the collection. | |
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Ever Green |
| Bennie Green was one of the great Blue Note trombone stars. Unfortunately the trombone was never in favour like the trumpet or sax, but the music and the burnished tone on this collection demand to be heard. Don't miss it | |
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Bennie Blows his Horn |
| If there is anyone unfamiliar with Bennie Green, this set will remedy that affliction. His style is a cross between Jump Blues and Swing. He has appeared many times with his mentor Jay Jay Johnson. One can always tell when it's Bennie soloing. His style is unique. He makes use of the entire slide of the 'Bone. It's also a pleasure to hear the little remembered Babs Gonzales on a few tracks. There's not a weak track in the set. | |
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A Phenomenal Collection!!! |
| This three disc set covers four albums plus an unreleased studio session by trombonist Bennie Green, thirty-three cuts in all. There isn't a dud among them. The quality and depth of the performances, along with the superior "full" sound, make this top-notch-must-have material. | |
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Don't Miss This One |
| This is truly another great set from Mosaic! Green is definitely his own man on trombone, and is accompanied by some of the best on tenor: Charlie Rouse, Gene Ammons, Stan Turrentine, Ike Quebec and Eddy Williams. If you have never heard these tracks you're in for a very pleasant surprise-don't hesitate! | |
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Jolly Green Giant |
| It never fails to amaze me how mosaic is able to find such wonderfully overlooked gems. The Bennie Green collection is truly exceptional. For those individuals that are accustomed to JJ Johnson, or J C Higganbotham(truly prodigious players), you are in for a beautiful sound sensation. I remember first hearing the work of Bennie Green many years ago on vinyl, however with the remastered digital transfer of this giant of a trombone player to cd format, we can all enjoy this great music. I will not attempt to bore you with the clinical analysis of why this music is so vibrant and beautiful, the only suggestion I have to jazz lovers, Try this boxset, you will not be dissappointed by the "other, Jolly Green Giant." | |
Mosaic Select: Bennie Green (MS-003)
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
3 CDs - $44.00
