Grassella Oliphant Quartet • The Grass Is Greener

 

Review by Stephen Cook
Drummer Grassella Oliphant's The Grass Is Greener is as good as it is rare. One of many soulful organ jazz dates that have gained cult status among sample hungry hip-hop and acid jazz devotees, this 1967 Atlantic album is packed with great playing and solid grooves (besides recording only one other album as a leader, his 1965 debut The Grass Roots, Oliphant also appeared on dates by singer Gloria Lynne and organist Shirley Scott, among others). With guitarist Grant Green and B-3 master John Patton completing the classic organ combo setup, the trio particularly stretch out on fine numbers like "Cantaloupe Woman" and Patton's own "Soul Woman." While these cuts are marked by a progressive, almost modal sound, much of the other material, which also features tenor saxophonist Harold Ousley and trumpeter Clark Terry, has a more down home and groove-heavy flavor; this is especially true on Terry's "Peaches Are Better Down the Road" and a cover of Allen Toussaint's classic bit of New Orleans soul, "Get Out of My Life Woman." Other standouts include a rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" and Ousley's breezy Latin swinger "The Latter Days." A great set.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-grass-is-greener-mw0001880228


Artist Biography
Grassella Oliphant (September 1, 1929, Pittsburgh - December 16, 2017) was an American jazz drummer.
Oliphant backed Ahmad Jamal in 1952 and Sarah Vaughan in the late 1950s, then worked with Gloria Lynne and Shirley Scott.
He released two soul jazz albums as a leader on Atlantic Records in the 1960s. The Grass Roots, released in 1965, saw Oliphant working with saxophonist Harold Ousley, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, and bassist Ray McKinney. His 1968 release The Grass Is Greener featured John Patton on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Clark Terry on trumpet, and Major Holley on bass, in addition to Ousley. The Grass Is Greener has been repeatedly sampled by hip hop artists. Both albums were reissued on CD by Collectables Records as a single disc in 2005.
After an almost 40-years hiatus from music, working as the manager of a golf course, Oliphant resumed playing in the 2000s, this time in the New Jersey area. During his 2007 NAMM Oral History Program interview, Oliphant spoke about his early days in jazz and the many changes he has witnessed during his career, especially those related to the development of instruments and musical products.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassella_Oliphant

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Reseña por Stephen Cook
The Grassella Oliphant, de Drummer Grassella Oliphant, The Grass Is Greener es tan bueno como raro. Una de las muchas fechas de jazz para órgano que han ganado estatus de culto entre los hambrientos devotos del hip-hop y del acid jazz, este álbum de 1967 Atlantic está repleto de excelentes interpretaciones y ritmos sólidos (además de grabar sólo otro álbum como líder, su debut en 1965 The Grass Roots, Oliphant también apareció en fechas de la cantante Gloria Lynne y de la organista Shirley Scott, entre otros). Con el guitarrista Grant Green y el maestro de B-3 John Patton completando la configuración del combo de órgano clásico, el trío se extiende particularmente en los números finos como "Cantaloupe Woman" y el propio "Soul Woman" de Patton. Mientras que estos cortes están marcados por un sonido progresivo, casi modal, mucho del otro material, que también cuenta con el saxofonista tenor Harold Ousley y el trompetista Clark Terry, tiene un sabor más casero y groove-heavy; esto es especialmente cierto en "Peaches Are Better Down the Road" de Terry y en una portada del clásico pedacito del alma de Nueva Orleans de Allen Toussaint, "Get Out of My Life Woman". También destaca la interpretación de "Ain't That Peculiar", de Marvin Gaye, y "The Latter Days", de Ousley. Un gran conjunto.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-grass-is-greener-mw0001880228


Biografía del artista
Grassella Oliphant (1 de septiembre de 1929, Pittsburgh - 16 de diciembre de 2017) era un baterista de jazz estadounidense.
Oliphant apoyó a Ahmad Jamal en 1952 y a Sarah Vaughan a finales de la década de 1950, y luego trabajó con Gloria Lynne y Shirley Scott.
Publicó dos álbumes de soul jazz como líder de Atlantic Records en la década de 1960. The Grass Roots, publicado en 1965, vio a Oliphant trabajando con el saxofonista Harold Ousley, el vibrafonista Bobby Hutcherson y el bajista Ray McKinney. En su versión de 1968, The Grass Is Greener presentaba a John Patton en el órgano, Grant Green en la guitarra, Clark Terry en la trompeta y Major Holley en el bajo, además de Ousley. The Grass Is Greener ha sido repetidamente sampleado por artistas de hip hop. Ambos álbumes fueron reeditados en CD por Collectables Records como un solo disco en 2005.
Después de una pausa de casi 40 años en la música, trabajando como gerente de un campo de golf, Oliphant volvió a tocar en la década de 2000, esta vez en el área de Nueva Jersey. Durante su entrevista con el Programa de Historia Oral de NAMM en 2007, Oliphant habló de sus primeros días en el jazz y de los muchos cambios que ha presenciado a lo largo de su carrera, especialmente los relacionados con el desarrollo de instrumentos y productos musicales.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassella_Oliphant


 

Tracklist:
1 - Get Out Of My Life Woman - 2:43
2 - Ain't That Peculiar - 2:52
3 - Soul Woman - 5:21
4 - Peaches Are Better Down The Road - 5:47
5 - The Yodel - 6:35
6 - Cantaloupe Woman - 4:37
7 - The Latter Days - 3:01
8 - Rapid Shave - 3:04



Credits:
    Artwork – Marvin Israel
    Bass – Major Holley (tracks: A1, A4, B1, B3, B4)
    Drums – Grassella Oliphant
    Engineer – Phil Iehle
    Guitar – Grant Green
    Liner Notes – Del Shields
    Organ – John Patton
    Photography By – Lee Friedlander
    Producer – Arif Mardin
    Tenor Saxophone – Harold Ousley (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B3, B4)
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet [Pocket] – Clark Terry (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B3, B4)


Label: Atlantic ‎– SD 1494
Released: 1967
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz
Discogs ...  https://www.discogs.com/master/view/294039

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