Grant Green

Grant Green (June 6, 1935, St. Louis, MO – January 31, 1979, New York City, NY) is generally considered one of the most overlooked jazz guitar players. Green recorded almost exclusively for Blue Note Records, releasing guitar driven

Grant Green (June 6, 1935, St. Louis, MO – January 31, 1979, New York City, NY) is generally considered one of the most overlooked jazz guitar players. Green recorded almost exclusively for Blue Note Records, releasing guitar driven hard bop, soul jazz, and bebop during his brief career.

Grant was born on June 6, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri. He started playing professionally at the age of 13. His early influences were Charlie Christian and Charlie Parker and he first played boogie-woogie before moving on to rock'n'roll. His first recordings in St. Louis were with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest. The drummer in the band was Elvin Jones, later the powerhouse behind John Coltrane. Grant recorded with Elvin again in the early sixties. Lou Donaldson discovered Grant playing in a bar in St. Louis. After touring together, Grant arrived in New York around 1959-60.