Not quite what it seems!
Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 04/27/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The question "When is a Grant Green album not a Grant Green album?" is answered by this release, with the reply, when "It's actually Grant Green as a sidesman on two album released by other artists". In this case "Space Flight" released as an album credited to Sam Lazar, and secondly one recorded as "Iron City" by Big John Patton. "Space Flight" is the quartet album which also has Willie Dixon on bass and Chauncey Williams on drums. The album doesn't give very much prominence to Green, though he does make some telling additions to several of the tracks. About Lazar I know practically nothing other than that I ordered an album I thought Argo were going to release way back when (probably 1961),which never arrived, and this one was recorded in June 1960. The release shows no sign of remastering, but as I'd never heard it before that's a guess! The second album (tracks 11 to 16) certainly hasn't been remastered, which I can be certain about because it appeared briefly in the 1990's on the 32 Record label, before being deleted, and I bought that re-release. It's a pretty varied programme, in which because of the trio setting Green gets to feature and contribute something instantly recognisable as being "Green like" on every track. The third member of the trio was Ben Dixon on drums, and it was recorded in New York in 1967. The album was saved from 3 star status because of the "Iron City" tracks, which it's good to have available again (even if I've already got them!) the first album being rather undistinguished. I'm inclined to say 'one for completists of Grant Green recordings!'"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1