GRANT GREEN — Idle Moments (review)

GRANT GREEN — Idle Moments album cover Album · 1965 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
Much has been said about the original intended length of the title track, so I’ll just repeat it once – what a fantastic mistake! ‘Idle Moments’ as a fourteen minute bluesy exploration is cool – even silky – giving everyone a chance to stretch out and solo on a piece that I find myself chucking on repeat more often than not. Not to say that up-tempo numbers like ‘Jean De Fleur’ (or the rest of the album) aren’t enjoyable, but the opening cut sets a high bar.

The bluesy swing of the title track is returned to on ‘Django’ and ‘Nomad’ is another harder piece where Henderson plays a little rougher, taking the spotlight. Hutcherson is a distinctive voice on all pieces, and of course Green leads everything with his lovely tone but like many of the greatest jazz albums, there seems to be no lone virtuoso. As a listener, the pieces feel as though everyone gets a say, that everyone is working together so damn well.

Perhaps Grant Green’s defining album, and a rewarding listen for fans of cool and hard bop.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Server Farm Eclectic Fusion
JON IRABAGON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Silent Moods Post-Fusion Contemporary
HENRIK GUNDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
New Dawn Progressive Big Band
MARSHALL ALLEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Owls, Omens, and Oracles Pop/Art Song/Folk
VALERIE JUNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Be Cool Vocal Jazz
NANCY KELLY
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Marshall Allen - New Dawn (Full Album Stream)
MARSHALL ALLEN
js· 1 day ago
Valerie June - Joy, Joy (In Studio Video)
VALERIE JUNE
js· 1 day ago
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live at the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 2, 1977)
CHARLES MINGUS
js· 2 days ago
Breaking Point (Live at the Blue Morocco in the Bronx, New York, April 10, 1967)
FREDDIE HUBBARD
js· 2 days ago
Blue Bossa (Live at the Blue Morocco in the Bronx, New York in 1967)
KENNY DORHAM
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed