Ballads (2002)

About this title: Ballads captures Grant Green in a mellow mood, offering something like a portrait of an artist as a young guitarist. All seven selections are from 1960 and 1961, mostly, as the liner notes state, because Green performed ballads less often as time went on (especially as a leader). It's instructive and gratifying, then, to have pieces like "My One and Only Love" and "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" in one place. The personnel varies quite a bit since each cut originates from a different album, though pianist Sonny Clark plays on four cuts, including the lovely "Little Girl Blue." Flutist Yusef ... read more

Tracks:

1. My One and Only Love [Mellin/Wood]
2. God Bless the Child [Herzog/Holiday]
3. My Funny Valentine [Rodgers/Hart]
4. Little Girl Blue [Rodgers/Hart]
5. Born to Be Blue [Torme/Wells]
6. Nancy (With the Laughing Face) [Silvers/VanHeusen]
7. 'Round Midnight [Hanighen/Monk/Willi]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.