Bennie Bennie Green

Sonny Stitt & Bennie Green - My Main Man (1964) {2004 Universal Japan-Argo MiniLP UCCC-9077}
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© 1964, 2004 Argo / Verve / Universal Japan | UCCC-9077
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone / Trombone

Bennie Green was no where near the technician Stitt was. In fact, his trombone vocabulary precedes J. J. Johnson's and the bebop revolution of Bird and Diz. Nevertheless, Sonny and Bennie sounded like soul mates on the two occasions I caught them together at McKee's Show Lounge 63rd and Cottage in Chicago. Their meetings didn't produce the sparks of Stitt and Jug (Gene Ammons) but a spirit of rare camaraderie (Stitt could be an ornery loner).

Bennie Green - Mosaic Select 3 (2003) {3CD Set, Mosaic MS-003 rec 1958-1962}
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© 1958-62, 2003 Blue Note / Mosaic Records / EMI Music | MS-003
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Soul Jazz / Trombone

Trombonist Bennie Green's Blue Note albums were almost completely overlooked until this Mosaic Select compilation appeared in 2003. The first session, originally issued as Back on the Scene, features Charlie Rouse joining Green in the front line. Green's up-tempo "Bennie Plays the Blues" is the best blowing vehicle, while he and Rouse both contribute lyrical solos in Melba Liston's "Melba's Mood." Pianist Gildo Mahones wrote three of the six tracks recorded for Walkin' & Talkin', with Eddy Williams taking Rouse's place.

Kai Winding, Bennie Green & J.J. Johnson - Green with Strings (1954) {Prestige OJCCD-1727-2 rel 1989}
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© 1952-54, 1989 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1727-2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Mainstream Jazz / Trombone

A great pairing of sides by two of the fifties greatest trombone acts! JJ Johnson and Kai Winding are on one side, with a boppish set of tunes, and Bennie Green's on the other, with a tight string ensemble. The music holds little surprises, but there's some nice takes on standards and of course, loads of great trombone.

Bennie Green - Back On The Scene (1958) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-1587 rel 1997}
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© 1958, 1997 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-1587 | Mono
Jazz / Bop / Trombone

It's evident from the opening pair of Latin-flavored performances that Back on the Scene is one of Bennie Green's most diverse efforts. Green's warm, supple tone and fondness for swinging, bop-influenced mainstream jazz and jump blues hasn't disappeared; he's just found new facets in his style. The infectious Latin rhythms on Cole Porter's "I Love You" and "Melba's Mood" are welcome, as is "You're Mine You," which showcases Green's sensitive ballad style. Reviving the standard "Just Friends" emphasizes the trombonist's ties to big band and bop, particularly through tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse's strong solos. The jumping "Bennie Plays the Blues" and "Green Street" are also terrific, finding Green, Rouse and pianist Joe Knight trading full-bodied solos. Even with this vast array of styles, Back on the Scene retains all the good-natured spirit and humor of his earlier Prestige albums.

Bennie Green and Gene Ammons - The Swingin'est (1958) {Vee-Jay NVJ2-905 rel 1993}
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© 1958, 1993 Vee-Jay | NVJ2-905
Jazz / Bop / Trombone / Saxophone

The emphasis is on the blues and very basic chord changes on this relaxed jam session. With trombonist Bennie Green leading an octet that also includes the tenors of Gene Ammons and Frank Foster, trumpeter Nat Adderley, Frank Wess on tenor and flute and a rhythm section led by pianist Tommy Flanagan, everyone has plenty of opportunities to solo.

Bennie Green - Glidin' Along (1961) {Jazzland OJCCD-1869-2 rel 1995}
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© 1961, 1995 Jazzland Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1869-2
Jazz / Bop / Bebop / Trombone

Re-released in 1995, Bennie Green's album "Glidin' Along" was originally recorded in 1961 and produced by Orrin Keepnews better known for his work at Riverside Records. Bennie is supported by Johnny Griffin, tenor, Junior Mance, piano, Ben Riley on drums and either Paul Chambers or Larry Gales on bass. Bennie - now known as Benny - Green is by no means as well-known as his contemporaries, J.J Johnson and Curtis Fuller, but he has a distinctive tone and style which, although capable of functioning in a hard bop setting, is reminiscent of some the earlier work of the swing players. The choice of numbers favours originals including two by Green himself but also features a very pretty version of "Stardust".

J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green & Willie Dennis - Four Trombones: The Debut Recordings (1953) {Prestige PRCD-24097-2}
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© 1953, 1991 Prestige Records | PRCD-24097-2
Jazz / Bop / Trombone

J.J. Johnson, along with Bennie Green, was a founding father of bop trombone; Willie Dennis's promising career was cut short by an early death; "Jay and Kai" had successfully collaborated on several projects in the Fifties. But the unique and legendary meeting of these trombone giants, which first appeared on the Debut label and is reissued here, was unprecedented in jazz. Almost as remarkable is the rhythm section on this CD, with John Lewis making a rare appearance outside the Modern Jazz Quartet.