Search - John Stein :: Green Street (Dig)

Whaling City Sound reissues Stein's Green Street John Stein and Whaling City Sound have officially reissued a remixed and re-mastered version of Stein's masterful organ combo album, Green Street. Originally released in 1999, the recording featured John accompanied by Ken Clark on Hammond, Dave Hurst on drums, and special guest David "Fathead" Newman on reeds. It is a classy organ combo set, now with a couple of unreleased bonus tracks, which elegantly sidesteps the many clichés that sometimes plagues the organ combo genre. Green Street is a different matter though. With its re-mastering, the recording pops even more than it did back in '99. The tone on Stein's guitar sings with a more tactile attack and a delicate treble, as does Clark's Hammond, which pierces the mix with a forceful authority. The arrangements confront the technical challenges posed by the organ combo concept with aggressive performances and creative soloing. Green Street opens with "Booga Lou," a dedication to Lou Donaldson, that bridges the worlds of rock and jazz with sweet licks and a heart full of soul thanks to Newman's extra-funky sax. The same goes for following track, the finger-snapping, beautifully articulated "Hotcakes," this time with Newman on flute. Further in, two dramatic, deeply wrought tunes--the passionate ballad "Our Love Will See Us Through" and the Latin-spiced "Sultry"--provide the perfect lead-in for the disc's centerpiece. "Green Street," which is a reference to the location of Boston's former venue the 1359 Jazz Club. It's a scorching blues that weighs in at nearly eight minutes, courtesy of the compelling timbre of Newman's sax, a swingin' rhythm section led by drummer Hurst, and some gorgeous Jimmy Smith-inspired organ licks. Yowza! Beyond that, Stein fans can also look forward to the reissue's two bonus tracks. Both "Be Ooo Ba," another sweet blues led by Stein's Wes-style soloing, and "You Stepped Out of a Dream" were recorded and broadcast live on Eric Jackson's jazz radio program on WGBH. Despite the disparate source, they sound at home here, alongside the album's original material. Stein is an internationally renowned jazz guitarist who was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. His musical affinity ultimately led him to a faculty position at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he continues to inspire new musicians and to perfect his own style. Over the years, John has performed as a leader or a sideman with some of America's finest jazz acts, and his compositions and performances cover a wide spectrum of jazz, from blues to bebop, from bossa nova to swing. He has toured nationally and internationally, not only in Brazil, but throughout Europe as well. Stein's brilliant reissue makes for a superb jazz experience.