Grassella Oliphant Grass Roots/The Grass Is Greener CD

This is one of the hipper two-fers Collectables has ever issued. It pairs the only two recordings drummer Grassella Oliphant ever released as a leader -- he was a solid sideman in the 1950s with Sarah Vaughan, and then later with singer Gloria Lynne and organist Shirley Scott. Both these titles were released on Atlantic. The first, The Grass Roots, features saxophonist Harold Ousley, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and bassist Ray McKinney. It's a varied date ranging from killer groove soul-jazz such as Ousley's "One for the Masses," covers of "Stardust" and "Mood Indigo," and hard bop swingers like "The Descendant" (also written by Ousley). Oliphant's playing is delightfully understated but his contrapuntal work with Hutcherson is literally startling. Ousley's playing should be noted for its fury and tenderness, depending on the tune. His use of restraint is tentative because it allows him to bust it wide open at all the right moments with a big fat reedy tone. The second album featured here, The Grass Is Greener, is a straight-up groove date with organist John Patton, guitarist Grant Green, trumpeter Clark Terry, Major Holley on electric bass, and Ousley, who also contributes some tunes on the set. It opens with a fine cover of Allen Toussaint's "Get Out of My Life Woman," and includes a killer read of Patton and Green's "Soul Woman." The album, recorded two years after the first, is much more focused in its soul-jazz articulation. Each cut is a monster, and the LP has been sought by collectors for years. It has been sampled heavily by DJ and rap artists for good reason -- it smokes. ~ Thom Jurek

2 LPs on 1 CD: GRASS ROOS/GRASS IS GREENER.

Personnel: Grassella Oliphant (drums); Major Holley (electric bass, bass guitar); Ray McKinley (bass guitar); Grassella Oliphant (drums); Grant Green (guitar); Harold Ousley (tenor saxophone); Clark Terry (trumpet); Big John Patton (organ); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone).