# Grant Green – His picking attack, melodic style and rich sound are magical: Photos, Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2020/10/10/his-picking-attack-melodic/
- Published: 2020-10-10T00:01:09+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Guitarist Grant Green recorded two gospel-flavored leadership albums for Blue 
Note. The first was _Sunday Mornin’,_ in June 1961, and the second was _Feelin’ 
the Spirit,_ in December 1962. **

Green, of course, would become a New York studio star in the 1960s and ’70s, but
he grew up in St. Louis where he began his career at age 13 playing guitar in churches,
backing a gospel vocal group. [Photo above of Grant Green by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic
Images]

_[⌊R-4506603-1366820594-8608.jpeg⌉⌊R-4506603-1366820594-8608.jpeg⌉[
 Sunday Mornin’

features Kenny Drew (p), Grant Green (g), Ben Tucker (b) and Ben Dixon (d). A solid,
sensitive trio behind Green, especially Drew. The album’s tracks are Freedom March,
Sunday Mornin’, Exodus, God Bless the Child, Come Sunrise, So What and Tracin’ Tracy.
The last two aren’t noted gospel songs but they fit right in for any Sunday morning.

_[⌊R-3994769-1415475566-1846.jpeg⌉⌊R-3994769-1415475566-1846.jpeg⌉[
 Feelin’ the
Spirit
 includes Herbie Hancock (p), Grant Green (g), Butch Warren (b), Billy Higgins(
d) and Garvin Masseaux (tamb). The tracks are Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Joshua
Fit the Battle of Jericho, Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, Go Down Moses, Sometimes
I Feel Like a Motherless Child and Deep River.

[⌊Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 8.44.56 PM⌉⌊Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 8.44.56 PM⌉[
 On both albums,
the last track was added in the digital age, when the Blue Note albums were released
on CD. Green’s picking style works neatly on both albums.

Of the two albums, I prefer the first. _Sunday Mornin’_ has heart and reflective
pacing, and its the more hymnal and spiritual of the two with a jazzier flavor. 
_Feelin’ the Spirit_ is funky and more rollicking, which seems a bit out of character
for the soulful Green. [Photo above of Grant Green by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic Images]

Green remains underappreciated, overshadowed by Wes Montgomery’s broad, commercial
thumb. His picking attack, melodic style and rich sound are magical. When I hear
Green, I feel his playing and can’t wait to hear more. He really is a deliciously
tasteful player. All of these qualities come into play on _Sunday Mornin’_ and not
so much on _Feelin’ the Spirit_. What may have seemed like a great idea turns out
to be ill-fitting and soulless.

[⌊Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 8.46.14 PM⌉⌊Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 8.46.14 PM⌉[

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