Grant Green

Grant Green was a guitarist whose single-note melodic approach and blues-rooted phrasing made him one of Blue Note’s most prolific recording artists. The guitarist’s career demonstrates consistent productivity across more than 240 releases, from early hard bop sessions in 1961 to later funk and soul-jazz work in the 1970s. Born in St. Louis, Green began performing professionally at age thirteen with gospel groups, learning guitar from his father. Lou Donaldson discovered Green performing in a St. Louis bar around 1959, leading to his move to New York and introduction to Blue Note’s Alfred Lion in 1960. From 1961 to 1965, Green appeared on more Blue Note albums as leader or sideman than any other artist on the label. The guitarist’s first issued album was “Grant’s First Stand” (1961), followed by “Green Street” and “Grantstand” the same year. His Blue Note recordings showcased Green’s linear approach: “Sunday Mornin’” (1962), “The Latin Bit” (1963), and “Feelin’ the Spirit” (1963) explored gospel, Latin, and spiritual themes. “Idle Moments” (1965) featuring Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson is considered among his finest work. Green worked extensively as a sideman with organists John Patton and Larry Young, and saxophonists Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec, and Stanley Turrentine. After periods of inactivity from 1967 to 1969, Green returned to Blue Note with funk-influenced recordings including “Green Is Beautiful” (1970) and the soundtrack “The Final Comedown” (1972). The discography spans labels including Blue Note, Verve, and Cobblestone, documenting a progression from hard bop and soul-jazz through later funk and R&B settings that influenced hip-hop sampling in subsequent decades.