Born to Be Blue
The fluent guitarist shines in the company of big tenor Ike Quebec and pianist Sonny Clark on this reissue, recorded in late 1961 and early 1962. Though well versed in bebop and inspired a great deal by Charlie Parker, Green relished beautiful ballad melodies and the soulfulness of the blues. Both are readily on display here, especially considering the fact that both Quebec and Clark had similar tastes. Green handles slower tunes such as "My One and Only Love" and "Count Every Star" with extreme care and sensitivity, showing wonderful melodic creativity embellished by quick, crafty runs. The title track (offered in two versions) showcases Quebec's dense but delicate tenor, which betrays a notable Ben Webster influence. Of particular note are Green's molten readings of an uptempo "Someday My Prince Will Come" and of Bird's "Cool Blues."--Marc Greilsamer