Grant Green (St. Louis, Missouri, June 6, 1935 – New York, January 31, 1979… Read Full Bio ↴Grant Green (St. Louis, Missouri, June 6, 1935 – New York, January 31, 1979; some sources erroneously give the birth year as 1931) was a jazz guitarist and composer.
Recording prolifically and almost exclusively for Blue Note Records (as both leader and sideman) Green performed well in hard bop, soul jazz, bebop and Latin-tinged settings throughout his career. Critics Michael Erlewine and Ron Wynn write, "A severely underrated player during his lifetime, Grant Green is one of the great unsung heroes of jazz guitar ... Green's playing is immediately recognizable -- perhaps more than any other guitarist." Critic Dave Hunter described his sound as "lithe, loose, slightly bluesy and righteously groovy". He often performed in an organ trio, a small group with an organ and drummer.
Apart from Charlie Christian, Green's primary influences were saxophonists, particularly Charlie Parker, and his approach was therefore almost exclusively linear rather than chordal. The simplicity and immediacy of Green's playing, which tended to avoid chromaticism, derived from his early work playing rhythm and blues and, although at his best he achieved a synthesis of this style with bop, he was essentially a blues guitarist and returned almost exclusively to this style in his later career. Green used a Gibson ES-330, then a Gibson L7 with a Gibson McCarty pickguard/pick-up, an Epiphone Emperor (with the same pick-up) and finally had a custom built D'Aquisto. George Benson said he would turn all the bass and treble off the amp, and max the midrange. This way he could get his signature punchy, biting tone.
Green was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He first performed in a professional setting at the age of 12. His influences were Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker, Ike Quebec, Lester Young, Jimmy Raney, Jimmy Smith and Miles Davis, he first played boogie-woogie before moving on to jazz. His first recordings in St. Louis were with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest for the Delmark label. The drummer in the band was Elvin Jones, later the powerhouse behind John Coltrane. Grant recorded with Elvin again in the early Sixties. Lou Donaldson discovered Grant playing in a bar in St. Louis. After touring together with Donaldson, Grant arrived in New York around 1959-60.
Lou Donaldson introduced Grant to Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records. Lion was so impressed with Grant that, rather than testing Grant as a sideman, as was the usual Blue Note practice, Lion arranged for him to record as a bandleader first. Green's initial recording session went unreleased until 2001, however, owing to a lack of confidence on Green's behalf.
Despite the shelving of his first session, Green's recording relationship with Lion and Blue Note was to last, with a few exceptions, throughout the Sixties. From 1961 to 1965, Grant made more appearances on Blue Note LPs, as leader or sideman, than anyone else. Grant's first issued album as a leader was Grant's First Stand. This was followed in the same year by Green Street and Grantstand. Grant was named best new star in the Down Beat critics' poll, 1962, and, as a result, his influence spread wider than New York. He often provided support to the other important musicians on Blue Note, including saxophonists Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec, Stanley Turrentine and Harold Vick, as well as organist Larry Young.
Sunday Mornin' , The Latin Bit and Feelin' the Spirit are all loose concept albums, each taking a musical theme or style: Gospel, Latin and spirituals respectively. Grant always carried off his more commercial dates with artistic success during this period. Idle Moments (1963), featuring Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson, and Solid (1964), featuring the Coltrane rhythm section, are acclaimed as two of Grant's best recordings.
Many of Grant's recordings were not released during his lifetime. These include Matador, in which Grant is once again in the heavyweight company of the Coltrane rhythm section, and a series of sessions with pianist Sonny Clark. In 1966 Grant left Blue Note and recorded for several other labels, including Verve. From 1967 to 1969 Grant was, for the most part, inactive due to personal problems and the effects of heroin addiction. In 1969 Grant returned with a new funk-influenced band. His recordings from this period include the commercially successful Green is Beautiful and the soundtrack to the film The Final Comedown. Grant was also a huge influence on guitarists, from George Benson to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Still to this day guitarists try to get his signature sound, Idle Moments is considered one of the top 100 jazz albums of all time.
Grant left Blue Note again in 1974 and the subsequent recordings he made with other labels divide opinion: some consider Green to have been the 'Father of Acid Jazz' (and his late recordings have been sampled by artists including US3, A Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy), whilst others have dismissed them (Michael Cuscuna wrote in the sleeve notes for the album Matador that "During the 1970s he made some pretty lame records").
Grant spent much of 1978 in hospital and, against the advice of doctors, went back on the road to earn some money. While in New York to play an engagement at George Benson's Breezin' Lounge, Grant collapsed in his car of a heart attack in New York City on January 31, 1979. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and was survived by six children. Since Green's demise, his reputation has grown to legendary status and many compilations of both his earlier (post-bop/straight ahead and soul jazz) and later (funkier/dancefloor jazz) periods, exist.
Recording prolifically and almost exclusively for Blue Note Records (as both leader and sideman) Green performed well in hard bop, soul jazz, bebop and Latin-tinged settings throughout his career. Critics Michael Erlewine and Ron Wynn write, "A severely underrated player during his lifetime, Grant Green is one of the great unsung heroes of jazz guitar ... Green's playing is immediately recognizable -- perhaps more than any other guitarist." Critic Dave Hunter described his sound as "lithe, loose, slightly bluesy and righteously groovy". He often performed in an organ trio, a small group with an organ and drummer.
Apart from Charlie Christian, Green's primary influences were saxophonists, particularly Charlie Parker, and his approach was therefore almost exclusively linear rather than chordal. The simplicity and immediacy of Green's playing, which tended to avoid chromaticism, derived from his early work playing rhythm and blues and, although at his best he achieved a synthesis of this style with bop, he was essentially a blues guitarist and returned almost exclusively to this style in his later career. Green used a Gibson ES-330, then a Gibson L7 with a Gibson McCarty pickguard/pick-up, an Epiphone Emperor (with the same pick-up) and finally had a custom built D'Aquisto. George Benson said he would turn all the bass and treble off the amp, and max the midrange. This way he could get his signature punchy, biting tone.
Green was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He first performed in a professional setting at the age of 12. His influences were Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker, Ike Quebec, Lester Young, Jimmy Raney, Jimmy Smith and Miles Davis, he first played boogie-woogie before moving on to jazz. His first recordings in St. Louis were with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest for the Delmark label. The drummer in the band was Elvin Jones, later the powerhouse behind John Coltrane. Grant recorded with Elvin again in the early Sixties. Lou Donaldson discovered Grant playing in a bar in St. Louis. After touring together with Donaldson, Grant arrived in New York around 1959-60.
Lou Donaldson introduced Grant to Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records. Lion was so impressed with Grant that, rather than testing Grant as a sideman, as was the usual Blue Note practice, Lion arranged for him to record as a bandleader first. Green's initial recording session went unreleased until 2001, however, owing to a lack of confidence on Green's behalf.
Despite the shelving of his first session, Green's recording relationship with Lion and Blue Note was to last, with a few exceptions, throughout the Sixties. From 1961 to 1965, Grant made more appearances on Blue Note LPs, as leader or sideman, than anyone else. Grant's first issued album as a leader was Grant's First Stand. This was followed in the same year by Green Street and Grantstand. Grant was named best new star in the Down Beat critics' poll, 1962, and, as a result, his influence spread wider than New York. He often provided support to the other important musicians on Blue Note, including saxophonists Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec, Stanley Turrentine and Harold Vick, as well as organist Larry Young.
Sunday Mornin' , The Latin Bit and Feelin' the Spirit are all loose concept albums, each taking a musical theme or style: Gospel, Latin and spirituals respectively. Grant always carried off his more commercial dates with artistic success during this period. Idle Moments (1963), featuring Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson, and Solid (1964), featuring the Coltrane rhythm section, are acclaimed as two of Grant's best recordings.
Many of Grant's recordings were not released during his lifetime. These include Matador, in which Grant is once again in the heavyweight company of the Coltrane rhythm section, and a series of sessions with pianist Sonny Clark. In 1966 Grant left Blue Note and recorded for several other labels, including Verve. From 1967 to 1969 Grant was, for the most part, inactive due to personal problems and the effects of heroin addiction. In 1969 Grant returned with a new funk-influenced band. His recordings from this period include the commercially successful Green is Beautiful and the soundtrack to the film The Final Comedown. Grant was also a huge influence on guitarists, from George Benson to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Still to this day guitarists try to get his signature sound, Idle Moments is considered one of the top 100 jazz albums of all time.
Grant left Blue Note again in 1974 and the subsequent recordings he made with other labels divide opinion: some consider Green to have been the 'Father of Acid Jazz' (and his late recordings have been sampled by artists including US3, A Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy), whilst others have dismissed them (Michael Cuscuna wrote in the sleeve notes for the album Matador that "During the 1970s he made some pretty lame records").
Grant spent much of 1978 in hospital and, against the advice of doctors, went back on the road to earn some money. While in New York to play an engagement at George Benson's Breezin' Lounge, Grant collapsed in his car of a heart attack in New York City on January 31, 1979. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and was survived by six children. Since Green's demise, his reputation has grown to legendary status and many compilations of both his earlier (post-bop/straight ahead and soul jazz) and later (funkier/dancefloor jazz) periods, exist.
In The Middle
Grant Green Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'In The Middle' by these artists:
A.R.T VERSE 1: You are always on my mind I bet you wanna…
Alesso You and I Saw the worst of each other before And it's…
Alesso & SUMR CAMP You and I Said the words to each other before And it′s…
Alesso SUMR CAMP You and I Saw the worst of each other before And it's…
Alexander O'Neal You and I Saw the worst of each other before And it′s…
Alix Strawberries this time of month taste better than when they…
Ampersand Posture In the middle of the night When you see my face…
Art School Girlfriend It's the great ideal But I hold too tight and I…
Artistic Raw Whether night or day, yeah I'm caught in a dream And I…
Bad Wolves Last night couldn't fall asleep 'Cause the wind was screamin…
Bargain Music Well here it goes You all listen up here now Cause this…
Big Something Take me to the middle The middle of nowhere It′s where I…
Bobby and the Bonsters In the middle of the night I sing a song…
Bugs My parents call me 'he' And my girlfriend calls me 'she' And…
Cambriana Hey brother You're coming along okay You sold the things t…
Candice Glover Ding-a-ling-a-ling, gyal make me sing You do yo thing to me …
Cerys Been crying a little Been caught in the middle It's somethin…
Cherry Animals In the middle of a sandy rocky land I am no…
Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa It's the Planes and the Taylor Gang and I'm Fucking with…
da silva's Passing fast in the Street, this serious lady doesn’t looks…
Darcy Clay And in the middle of the night By the broad daylight,…
Daz-I-Kue What we finally found wasn't what we wanted Wish I could…
Dear Matthew Pierce Jonny 3 x . Walk in the middle .walk in the middle .walk in…
Dizzy Gillespie with Georgie Auld & His Orchestra Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
dodie What are you doing Friday? Wanna help my worlds collide? Let…
Dokken I talk with you I think of her It always turns out…
Dusc Ice, Frozen Freeze frame Quarantine form Tryna beat boredom …
E-PLAY Am I the number one spot in ya favorites Only…
Em Rossi All these nights and there's nobody there, I'm just alone he…
Exit 159 listen you, this ain't me I don't know how I got…
Fat Amy (R.J. Johnson/Guiney/Meyers) A makeshift mirror frames the t…
Flash & The Five Heartbeats See the office, see the phone Call the number, no…
Georgie Auld & His Orchestra Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
Georgie Auld And His Orchestra` Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
Glover Candice Ding-a-ling-a-ling, gyal make me sing You do yo thing to me…
Grant Terry Honey, tell me all your secrets. It's funny, how you always…
Hypnotic Clambake Jumpin' on a plane in the middle of the subway Scratching…
Ida Whether night or day, yeah I'm caught in a dream And I…
Isaac Carree Tears running down your face And your heart feelin' like it'…
J-Funk Express Yeah I was having writer's block before I wrote this man I…
James Joshua Cup of cold black coffee On the right side of the…
Jimmy Eats World Hey, don't write yourself off yet It's only in your head…
Jimmy Needham I remember it was later in December when we got…
Jonathan David Helser In the middle of the storm, You are the peace In…
Joshua James Cup of cold black coffee On the right side of the…
JR JR Hearts are bought, and sold by money. All will live in…
JR. JR Broke into you car last night Took your stereo Now you say…
Kazaky In the middle In the middle In the middle In the middle r…
Kellin Quinn Walked out my door today Felt the sunlight on my face Want…
kydplaza Uh huh Mic check, mic check I'm with it Yeah Uh Circling dow…
Lauren Sanderson There's somethin 'bout the way The ocean pours in over you O…
Les Brown And His Orchestra Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
Lily & Madeleine The river is white It's tangled and dry But I still remember…
Magic Affair In the middle of the night A vision brings me light Time…
Mark Francis If I have found the way to go Then I know…
Mat Kearney I meant it all and every part And every word…
Matteo Markus Bok I was going through my phone tonight I found a picture…
Max George Max: When I was young I read stories where princes …
Michael A. Arnzen If the sun won't fall and the rain don't shine Don't…
Miss Montreal I only live with true love easy days, the usual…
Myallo Yeah, I’m stuck in the middle Life is a game but…
N.Rain Am I the number one spot in ya favorites Only…
Natalia Barbu Listen your voice inside your heart Right in the middle Open…
Neal Morse In the middle of the breaking through There was still more…
Nitocris I close my eyes It's time to hide It's time to find…
Papercut Massacre Well it's a cold day The sun is out but It's not…
Paul Colman Trio I get confused I can't use the word religion 'Cause it's…
PFR For so long I had the same dream I'm running like…
Physical Challenge So this is your answer, to all your fucking questions Everyt…
Po'Dunk Tell me something lady Where did you come from? Cause you …
Podunk Tell me something lady Where did you come from? Cause you ju…
Raveen We stay open when we meant to close We stated our…
Rodney Atkins Old gray fence, tarchip road martin’s creek, I'm almost home…
Rose Polenzani Stubborn as hell, that's what you are. Stick to your side…
Seaweed into the middle of monsters island during the middle that, …
Shadow Wilson (George Auld & His Orchestra) Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
Shaker Here I am again In my room on the floor On these…
Shawn Foxx This Loves a Riddle You Claiming we don’t spend no time Well…
Smokie Norful When you cried, when you were sad When you were alone I'm…
Spencer & Hill feat. Joel Edwards Come into my life like a hurricane And the sky is…
Sugababes I'm caught up in the middle Jumping through the riddle…
SUMR CAMP You and I Saw the worst of each other before And it's…
The High Strung There's two sides to our bed, but let's meet in…
The Mamas (Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa) Sometimes I'm lost and feeling low Th…
The Royal Foundry Twist and turn, pulling me close Closer to her heart, closer…
The Streets beginning with a shock, the end can be a riddle, its…
The Wanted When I was young I read stories where princes won And as…
Theory of a Deadman What would you do if we woke up and the…
Thermal And A Quarter Here or there is all very well But in between is…
They Might Be Giants Don't cross the street In the middle In the middle In the mi…
Tim Moore For so long it's been you and me But now there's…
TOKYO’S REVENGE Now that I know you do it so well This is…
Trey Songz If I could be up in the middle of Just wanna…
Unlimited Touch I have a place for you in the middle Right in…
Vini Vici Meet me in the middle Where we both feel warm…
Willie and the Giant Don't cross the street In the middle In the middle In the mi…
Wolftyla Got the top down, late night, riding to the music Feel…
Yaro and the Static There's a tear in my eye, But it won't be shed…
Yung Bleu Yeah Throw that ass back (Na, na, na, na, na) Back for…
Zedd Maren Morris and Grey In the middle of May I met a gal named June; Took…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Grant Green:
'Round About Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
A Day In The Life I read the news today oh boy About a lucky man…
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
Ain't It Funky Now! Fellas, things done got too far gone. We gotta let the…
Back in Your Own Back Yard We leave home expecting to find a blue bird, Hoping ev'ry…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
does anybody know what time it is As I was walking down the street one day A man…
For All We Know For all we know We may never meet again Before we go Make…
I Concentrate on You Whenever skies look gray to me And trouble begins to brew, W…
I Remember You This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodb…
If You Really Love Me And if you really love me won't you tell me And…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Laura Laura is the face in the misty lights. Footsteps that you…
Lazy Afternoon Ollie told me I'm a fool. So I walked on…
Let The Music Take Your Mind Come on y'all Let the music take your mind Everyone feel it…
Love Walked In Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked…
never can say goodbye I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now Never…
Old Folks Everyone knows him as Old Folks Like the seasons, he'll com…
People People, People who need people, Are the luckiest people in…
Someday My Prince Will Come Somewhere waiting for me There is someone I'm longing to see…
Somewhere In The Night Somewhere in the night chasing shadows around the bend Somew…
Song Is You I hear music when I look at you, A beautiful theme…
Street Of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
That Lucky Old Sun Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like…
The Lamp Is Low Dream beside me in the midnight glow, the lamp Is…
The Song is You I hear music when I look at you, A beautiful theme…
You Don't Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
You Stepped Out of a Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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