Idle Moments

Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Grant Green (guitar), Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone), Duke Pearson (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Al Harewood (drums). From the album Idle Moments (1965).

This is one of the best hard bop albums Green ever recorded. This first track, which gives the album its title, is a slow composition that lasts almost 15 minutes. Pearson, the author of the song, explained that the melody was shorter, but because the musicians repeated it twice, they didn’t know if each chorus had 16 or 32 bars. Producer Alfred Lion suggested that they make a new shorter take, but the theme had a special feeling that no later take could recover.

Whether running warm, cool or a little more up-tempo, Green treats the material with the same elegance as in his best hard bop sessions, and that quality reaches its highest expression here. Throughout the album there is enough space for extensive solos. Pearson’s piano playing is warm and accessible, the cool glow of Bobby Hutcherson’s vibraphone helps create a good mood, while Joe Henderson plays with a hoarse breath. Thanks to the support Green receives from the rest of the group, this is one of the most intimate performances of his career, as if his guitar whispered secrets in your ear.

The rhythm section gives a brief introduction to the theme, which is very slow, then Green and Hutcherson join to expose it and later Henderson goes in gently. The group, being a sextet, has more melodic volume than usual. They all play in unison except Person, who adds some details. Green begins his solo with carefully selected notes, following the original melody and playing chords from time to time. His phrases are soft and slow, but with great meaning. Then Pearson enters with a suggestive and delicate speech that conveys wellbeing with few notes. Henderson follows him with a heartfelt solo and a rounded sound. His phrases are simple, but penetrating, although in the end he speeds up a bit. Afterwards, Hutcherson comes in with a very bluesy solo and a determined and consistent melodic line. To conclude, the group re-exposes the theme changing it slightly at the end.