Grant Green - The Latin Bit
Grant Green - guitar [click here to see more vinyl featuring Grant Green]
John Adriano Acea - piano
Wendell Marshall - bass
Willie Bobo - drums
Carlos "Patato" Valdes - conga
Garvin Masseaux - chekere
1LP, Deluxe Gatefold Packaging
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : Blue Note Tone Poet Series
Original Label : Blue Note
Recorded April 26 & September 7, 1962 at Studio Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Mastered By Kevin Gray At Cohearent Audio
Produced by Joe Harley
Originally released in 1963
Reissued in April 2022
Tracks:
Side A:
- Mambo Inn
- Besame Mucho
- Mama Inez
Side B:
- Brazil
- Tico Tico
- My Little Suede Shoes
Reviews:
“Grant Green, being known mainly as a soul jazz guitarist, eventually gravitated into the popular boogaloo sound. The Latin Bit is the natural bridge to that next phase, though a bit premature for most in 1961-1963, even relative to the subsequent bossa nova craze. Pianist Johnny Acea, long an underrated jazzman, is the nucleus of this session, grounding it with witty chops, chordal comping, and rhythmic meat. The Latino rhythm section of drummer Willie Bobo and conga player Carlos "Patato" Valdes personify authentic, seasoned spice, while at times the chekere sound of Garvin Masseaux makes the soup too thick. At its collective best, the group presents a steady, serene, and steamy "Besame Mucho" and the patient, slow, slinky, sultry "Tico Tico." Just a small step below is a classy take on Charlie Parker's "My Little Suede Shoes," a premier jazz bebop (emphasis) tune with a Latin undertow and Green's tiniest staccato phrases, slightly marred by the overbearing constant chekere, but still classic. "Mama Inez" ranks high for its calypso-infused happy feeling and wry stop-start lines. The straight-ahead hard bopper "Brazil" and lone soul-jazz tune, "Blues for Juanita," display the single-note acumen that made Green's style instantly recognizable. This date always yielded mixed results for staunch fans of Green, but it remains a credible effort, even if slightly flawed in part.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Ratings :
AllMusic : 3.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.28 / 5