Track Listing

1. Idle Moments
2. Jean de Fleur
3. Django [Alternate Version][*]
4. Nomad
5. Jean de Fleur [Alternate Version]
6. Django [Alternate Version]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7806 in Music
• Brand: Green
• Released on: 1999-04-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
Time is suspended on these four haunting, extended tunes by this brilliant guitarist with the aid of an all-star cast. Unique in Green's discography for its relaxed, lengthy performances and almost dream-like lyricism, this Blue Note classic could well be called "Ballads for the Ages."

Amazon.com
The alluring title track alone makes this CD a must-have. A 15-minute dreamscape laid down by pianist Duke Pearson, the song features enchanting solos by tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. Guitarist Grant Green's single-note melody heightens the song's suspense. Grant's original "Jean de Fleur" finds the ensemble in brisker tempo, while their cover of John Lewis's "Django" exudes the spine-tingling coolness of Lewis's brand of bop. --John Murph

Customer Reviews

Quintessential Green album
If you're never heard Grant Green's guitar work before, this is the place to start. Not only because Green is playing at his finest, but so his is his all-star supporting cast which includes Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and Duke Pearson on piano. The Pearson penned title-cut may be my single favorite recorded cut in jazz history. Each of the aforementioned soloists does some incredible work. The piece is laid-back and languid, but with incredible soul. The rest of the tunes vary in tempo but most have the same lazy, smoky feel to them while sounding fiercely inspired.

Idle Moments also happens to sound incredible in its newly remastered edition by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder. Its one of the best sounding discs in the series even. Those of you who own the original Blue Note release should definitely consider the upgrade.

Highly recommened for anyone with an interest in jazz or those looking for a place to develop one.

For The Amazing Title Track
It is hard to tell how this CD would sound without the wonderful, 15 minutes long title track. Certainly the magic of this track is a big part of the CD's success.
Idle Moments is one of those rare moments in recorded music when the musicians and the music become one, uniting in spirit around the musical fire. This needs to be heard, to understand the potential of improvised music to express love and unity.
But the rest of the CD does contain elements that make it special as well.
As a saxophone player I love the way in which Joe Henderson follows the lead of Grant Green, demonstrating that a sax player does not have to be in front in order to play beautifully.
Bobby Hutcherson's part in every recording he has played on has been crucial - here his sound and tasteful playing is one of the main ingredients to the overall success. Duke Pearson contributed the title track as well the fast tempo Nomad. His playing is sensitive and group oriented throughout.
A lot has been written on Green's special playing and his leadership - he deserves all compliments. The drummer and bass players share in this celebration of ego-less group spirit that makes this music so special.
The lesson that this music taught me is that when talent and mutual love and understanding join forces, the result is outstanding. This should be the aim of every musician. And to think that most of the musicians here were in their twenties when they reached this high level of musicianship - it is a testimony to their greatness and to the power of the group to elevate its member.
Needless to say - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

As intense and haunting as any album I can think of
I've never really been more than of a casual fan of this style guitar playing. I love some of the Hendrix-influenced jazz guitar that came later, and I definitely have an appreciation for acoustic jazz guitar players of an earlier era, but I never really got into any be-bop/hard-bop/soul-jazz players. That is, not until I heard Grant Green's Idle Moments.

I'm sure that this is an album that I will come back to as long as I live. Everything comes together here. The wistful title cut is one of the most evocative jazz tunes I've ever heard. Both Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson sound much more subdued than I've ever heard them - but still as intense as ever. Actually, every player seems to know exactly when to stop playing. This album reminds me of Somethin' Else by Cannonball Adderly in terms of the mood and also the way it affected me as these tunes came together for me.

Honestly, I've heard so much jazz from this era that I wondered if there was another similar "straight-ahead" album out there that could affect me the way that some of these great jazz albums have in the past. I suppose that this is one of the great things about music; no matter how much you've absorbed there is ALWAYS more out there. Oh, and perhaps in part to RVG remastering this album sounds as if it was recorded yesterday rather than 1963 (actually, the sound quality is better than most albums recorded yesterday). This is music that just makes me feel happy to be alive, and I would recommend this to anyone who loves music of any kind.