In the 1950s, Blue Note was a reliable bastion of hard bop. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers set the tone, and dozens of artists—some famous, some not—followed. But Blue Note also had small oases of not-bop, often by artists you've never heard of.
Bennie Green is one of those guys, and if you haven't heard him, you should. Specifically, you should hear Soul Stirrin'.
This is a bluesy, almost pre-bop record. Green plays trombone, but not in a J.J. Johnson bebop style. Much of Soul Stirrin' generally, and Green's playing in particular, have a swing feel. And much of it is just plain old, straight up blues.
It is an absolute pleasure.
Soul Stirrin' starts with the title song, a slow blues grind. This is soul before it became funky. Green plays fat, emotional blues notes. Pianist Sonny Clark, a Blue Note regular, adds a solo that comes straight from a smoky midnight jazz bar. Saxmen Gene Ammons and Billy Root add their flavors.
Five more songs follow, each different from the last. "We Wanna Cook" strikes a bebop tone—the only song on the album that does—with Ammons (or is it Root?) playing hard and fast in a way that reminds me of Paul Gonsalves' long, legendary solo with Duke Ellington at Newport just two years earlier—funky and almost rocking.
"That's All" is a sweet, beautiful ballad. Green is wonderful—soft and gentle and dreamy. "Lullabye of the Doomed" is, as the title implies, a mournful dirge. Green's trombone weeps, and the saxophones are full of swirling smoke. It reminds me of Miles Davis on "My Funny Valentine," or Ellington's "Mood Indigo." The closer, "Black Pearl," is a happy, lively tune that allows each soloist to shine.
The only downer, and it's a small one, is "B.G. Mambo." The theme is sort of cheesy, though it does give way to seven minutes of very pleasant solos, before returning to the goofy theme.
All in all, Soul Stirrin' is an unexpected pleasure from a jazz man who is largely forgotten. Now that I've discovered Bennie Green, I want to hear more.
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
By Marc Davis
August 26, 2015
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bennie-green-soul-stirrin-1958-bennie-green-by-marc-davis
Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Soul Stirrin' is an invigorating, exciting date from trombonist Bennie Green, showcasing his wide range of skills. His tone is alternately boisterous and reflective -- the juxtaposition of the wildly swinging "We Wanna Cook" (complete with shouted vocals) and the gentle "That's All" is startling, demonstrating that Green can vary his robust sound according to the occasion. Green's fluid trombone is at the center stage throughout most of Soul Stirrin', but he also steps aside to shine some light on his extraordinary support group -- saxophonists Gene Ammons and Billy Root, pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Ike Isaacs and drummer Elvin Jones. Each musician plays with soul and passion, both on the laidback blues and mambos and the rollicking swing numbers. It's a thoroughly enjoyable record and one that is a good introduction to Green's wonderful, friendly style.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-stirrin-mw0000595873
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En la década de 1950, Blue Note era un bastión fiable del hard bop. Art Blakey y los Jazz Messengers marcaron la pauta, y docenas de artistas -algunos famosos, otros no- les siguieron. Pero Blue Note también tenía pequeños oasis de no-bop, a menudo por artistas de los que nunca has oído hablar.
Bennie Green es uno de ellos, y si no lo ha escuchado, debería hacerlo. En concreto, deberías escuchar Soul Stirrin'.
Es un disco de blues, casi pre-bop. Green toca el trombón, pero no al estilo bebop de J.J. Johnson. Gran parte de Soul Stirrin' en general, y la forma de tocar de Green en particular, tienen un aire swing. Y gran parte es blues puro y duro.
Es un placer absoluto.
Soul Stirrin' comienza con la canción que da título al disco, un blues lento. Esto es soul antes de que se convirtiera en funky. Green toca notas de blues gordas y emotivas. El pianista Sonny Clark, un habitual de Blue Note, añade un solo que viene directamente de un humeante bar de jazz de medianoche. Los saxofonistas Gene Ammons y Billy Root añaden su toque.
Siguen cinco canciones más, cada una diferente de la anterior. "We Wanna Cook" alcanza un tono bebop -la única canción del álbum que lo hace- con Ammons (¿o es Root?) tocando duro y rápido de una forma que me recuerda al largo y legendario solo de Paul Gonsalves con Duke Ellington en Newport sólo dos años antes -funky y casi rockero.
"That's All" es una balada dulce y hermosa. Green está maravilloso, suave, apacible y soñador. "Lullabye of the Doomed" es, como su título indica, una triste canción fúnebre. El trombón de Green llora, y los saxofones están llenos de humo arremolinado. Me recuerda a Miles Davis en "My Funny Valentine", o a "Mood Indigo" de Ellington. El cierre, "Black Pearl", es una melodía alegre y animada que permite brillar a cada solista.
El único bajón, y es pequeño, es "B.G. Mambo". El tema es algo cursi, aunque da paso a siete minutos de solos muy agradables, antes de volver al tema bobalicón.
En definitiva, Soul Stirrin' es un placer inesperado de un jazzista en gran parte olvidado. Ahora que he descubierto a Bennie Green, quiero escuchar más.
Puntuación: 5 estrellas (de 5)
Por Marc Davis
26 de agosto de 2015
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bennie-green-soul-stirrin-1958-bennie-green-by-marc-davis
Reseña
por Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Soul Stirrin' es una fecha vigorizante y emocionante del trombonista Bennie Green, mostrando su amplia gama de habilidades. Su tono es alternativamente bullicioso y reflexivo -- la yuxtaposición de la salvajemente oscilante "We Wanna Cook" (completa con voces gritadas) y la suave "That's All" es sorprendente, demostrando que Green puede variar su robusto sonido según la ocasión. El fluido trombón de Green ocupa el centro del escenario en la mayor parte de Soul Stirrin', pero también se hace a un lado para iluminar a su extraordinario grupo de apoyo: los saxofonistas Gene Ammons y Billy Root, el pianista Sonny Clark, el bajista Ike Isaacs y el batería Elvin Jones. Cada músico toca con alma y pasión, tanto en los relajados blues y mambos como en los alegres números de swing. Es un disco muy disfrutable y una buena introducción al maravilloso y agradable estilo de Green.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-stirrin-mw0000595873
1 - Soul Stirrin' - 6:50
2 - We Wanna Cook - 6:38
3 - That's All - 6:25
4 - Lullaby Of The Doomed - 6:01
5 - B.G. Mambo - 8:15
6 - Black Pearl - 5:45
7 - Soul Stirrin' (Mono Take) - 6:44
Credits:
Bass – Ike Isaacs (2)
Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
Design [Redesign] – Patrick Roques
Drums – Elvin Jones
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Mastered By [20-bit Super Mapping] – Ron McMaster
Photography By [Cover Photograph] – Francis Wolff
Piano – Sonny Clark
Producer – Alfred Lion
Reissue Producer – Michael Cuscuna
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Root, Gene Ammons
Trombone – Bennie Green
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on April 28, 1958.
Track 7 is a mono take previously unissued.
Label: Blue Note – BLP 1599
Country: US
Released: 1958
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/3363508-Bennie-Green-Soul-Stirrin
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