1960 · Album
First Session
Recorded 1960–1961 · Blue Note · Produced by Not specified in verified sources
The Session That Waited Forty Years
Green's guitar cuts through with the clarity that made him essential to Blue Note's sound.
First Session sits in an odd corner of Grant Green's catalog — these are technically his earliest Blue Note recordings, made in 1960 and 1961, but they spent four decades in the vault while other sessions got released first. That gap matters because it means you're hearing Green before he'd fully settled into what people expected from him. He's sharp and direct here, not yet the smooth, soulful player he'd become on records like Grant's First Stand (1961), which came out instead of these tracks.
The rhythm section on most of these tracks — Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums — gives everything a bouncy, conversational feel. Kelly especially pushes the tempos and fills the space around Green's lines. The guitar work itself is functional and clean rather than flashy. Green plays his role without overreaching, which is honest work but not always memorable. You can hear why Blue Note's producers might have thought other recordings showed him to better advantage.
Then two takes from a later 1961 session appear with Sonny Clark on piano, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, and the whole thing opens up differently. Clark's touch brings more sophistication, and Higgins drives with a lighter touch than Jones. These two cuts hint at where Green would eventually excel. First Session is mainly for Green completists and people studying how the label's early decisions shaped his trajectory. It's not a bad place to land if you already love his work, but start with his later Blue Note records if you're new to him.
Who's playing
Paul Chambersbass
Butch Warrenbass
Wynton Kellypiano
Sonny Clarkpiano
Grant Greenguitar
Philly Joe Jonesdrums
Billy Higginsdrums
Where next?
More by Grant Green
All 38 albums →
The musicians on this record
Kelly Blue 1959
Wynton Kelly
plays piano here
plays piano here
Kenny Drew Trio 1957
Philly Joe Jones
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
♫
The Oracle 1989
Billy Higgins
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
