GRANT GREEN - The Latin Bit (1962-2007) RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks), lossless

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."] Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1 Mambo Inn 5:48
Written-By – Woodlon, Sampson, Bauza
2 Besame Mucho 7:09
Written-By – C. Velasquez, S. Skylar
3 Mama Inez 6:38
Written-By – E. Grenet, L. Gilbert
4 Brazil 4:59
Written-By – A. Barroso, S. K. Russell
5 Tico Tico 7:42
Written-By – Jose Abreu
6 My Little Suede Shoes 6:21
Written-By – Charlie Parker
7 Blues For Jaunita 7:02
Written-By – Grant Green
8 Grenada 6:23
Written-By – Augustin Lara
9 Hey There 7:24
Written-By – J. Ross, R. Adler
Credits :
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Congas – Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Drums – Willie Bobo
Guitar – Grant Green
Percussion [Checkere] – Garvin Masseaux (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Johnny Acea (tracks: 1 to 7), Sonny Clark (tracks: 8, 9)
Recorded By, Remastered By [2007] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Ike Quebec (tracks: 8, 9)
Notes
Tracks 1-6 originally issued in 1963 as Blue Note BST 84111.
Tracks 7-9 originally issued in 1996 on the first CD edition of this album. Bonus tracks, not part of original LP