Matador - Grant Green (1979) (1LP Vinyl, Japan, GXF-3053) - Near Mint (NM)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Condition Notes:

Matador by Grant Green.

There are guitarists, and then there is Grant Green, and on "Matador" he steps into the ring against one of the most formidable rhythm sections ever assembled. Recorded on May 20, 1964, this session pairs Green's clean, singing lines with the incendiary drumming of Elvin Jones and the roiling, modal harmony of McCoy Tyner on piano, two musicians who defined the sound of a certain classic quartet. With Bob Cranshaw anchoring everything on bass, the group generates a tension and momentum that reward repeated listening.

The album opens with the title track, "Matador," a piece built for the fire that Jones and Tyner bring to it, its rhythmic drive giving Green ample room to stretch out and burn. The interplay between guitar and drums here is the heart of the record, a conversation that pushes hard without ever losing its sense of swing.

Then comes "My Favorite Things," a bold choice given the way that same tune became inextricably linked to Tyner and Jones in another setting. Here the melody unfolds in Green's hands, the modal foundation laid down by the piano turning the familiar show tune into something more searching and expansive, a highlight of the A side.

The B side pairs "Green Jeans," a title that winks at the leader himself, with the closing "Bedouin," a track whose very name conjures a sense of distance and desert space. Across all four cuts, the quartet moves with the unity of players who understood exactly how to listen to one another, and Green's guitar remains the melodic center of gravity throughout.

This is a Japanese pressing on the GXF series, catalogued as GXF 3053 on the back sleeve, spine, and insert, and as GXF-3053 on the obi and labels. Made in Japan and carrying a 1979 production date, it arrives with a predominantly blue and black obi and a one sided insert bearing Japanese liner notes. The runouts are stamped. Notably, the release announced that "the material on this album is released here for the first time," making this an important issue for collectors of Green's mid sixties output.

The provenance behind the sound is impeccable. Rudy Van Gelder engineered the original recording, with Tony Sestanovich handling the remix, while Alfred Lion produced the original session and Michael Cuscuna produced the record for release. Cuscuna and Takashi Kubota supplied the liner notes, and the cover design and illustration came from Toshikazu Tanaka and Toshio Fujiyama. It all adds up to a beautifully realized package around a session that finally saw the light of day years after it was captured.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Matador
A2. My Favorite Things
B1. Green Jeans
B2. Bedouin

Credits:
Bob Cranshaw - Bass
Toshikazu Tanaka - Design [Cover Design], Illustration
Toshio Fujiyama - Design [Cover Design], Illustration
Elvin Jones - Drums
Rudy Van Gelder - Engineer [Recording Engineer]
Tony Sestanovich - Engineer [Remixed Engineer]
Grant Green - Guitar
Michael Cuscuna - Liner Notes
Takashi Kubota - Liner Notes
McCoy Tyner - Piano
Alfred Lion - Producer [Original Session Produced By]
Michael Cuscuna - Producer [Produced For Release By]

Notes:
Released with a predominantly blue & black obi and a one sided insert with Japanese liner notes

Recorded on May 20, 1964

"The material on this album is released here for the first time."

℗ 1979
Made in Japan

Cat# GXF 3053 - Back sleeve, spine & insert
Cat# GXF-3053 - Obi & labels

Runouts: Stamped

Artist: Grant Green

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: GXF 3053

Release Year: 1979

Country: Japan