The Latin Bit

by Grant Green

Overview

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. [Some reissues add two selections with pianist Sonny Clark and tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec, the latter of whom plays hip secondary harmonies on the bossa nova-flavored "Granada," but is in the complete background and a non-factor on the pop tune "Hey There."] ~ Michael G. Nastos

Product Details

Release Date:	10/04/2024
Label:	Universal Japan
UPC:	4988031657508
Rank:	230937

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Grant Green   Primary Artist,Guitar
Ike Quebec   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Carlos "Patato" Valdes   Guest Artist,Congas
Willie Bobo   Guest Artist,Drums
John "Johnny" Adriano Acea   Piano
Garvin Masseaux   Chekere
Wendell Marshall   Bass

Technical Credits

Ron McMaster   Digital Remastering
Rudy Van Gelder   Engineer
Aloysio de Oliveira   Composer
Michael Cuscuna   Compilation Producer
Milt Jackson   Composer
Ary Barroso   Composer
Zequinha de Abreu   Composer
Grant Green   Composer
Alfred Lion   Producer
Agustin Lara   Composer
Richard Adler   Composer
Consuelo Velazquez   Composer
Ervin Drake   Composer
Mario Bauza   Composer
S.K. Russell   Composer
Jerry Ross   Composer
Nat Hentoff   Liner Notes
Sunny Skylar   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
Louis Wolfe Gilbert   Composer
Jose Abreu   Composer
Grace Sampson   Composer
Bobby Woodlen   Composer
Aloysio Oliveira   Composer
C. Velasquez   Composer
Reid Miles   Design,Photography
Jose Gomez de Abreu   Composer
Charlie Parker   Composer,Composer
Consuelo Velasquez   Composer
Eliseo Grenet   Composer
Edgar Sampson   Composer