The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark cover

The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark

Recorded
1961-1962
Released

In December 1961 and January 1962, guitarist Grant Green, pianist Sonny Clark, and bassist Sam Jones recorded three albums’ worth of material — two featuring drummer Louis Hayes, and one with Art Blakey. Blue Note shelved all three, finally releasing them as Gooden’s Corner, Nigeria, and Oleo in 1980…but only in Japan. This two-CD set, which offers three additional tracks, was assembled in 1997. Green’s stinging guitar lines were perfectly complemented by Clark’s bluesy, rhythmic chords and subtle but focused solos. The key track is the 10-minute “It Ain’t Necessarily So”; the guitarist sends sheets of flame up the walls, as Blakey shouts encouragement from behind the kit.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Blacks and Blues cover

Blacks and Blues

Bobbi Humphrey
Solo Live cover

Solo Live

Michel Petrucciani
Reincarnation cover

Reincarnation

Warren Wolf
Greatest Hits cover

Greatest Hits

Jimmy McGriff
Night Dreamer cover

Night Dreamer

Wayne Shorter
Swirling cover

Swirling

Sun Ra Arkestra
Trio Grande cover

Trio Grande

Will Vinson, Antonio Sánchez, Gilad Hekselman
The Almighty cover

The Almighty

Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few