ProJazz.net

Blues and Other Shades of Green is an album by trombonist Urbie Green which was recorded in 1955 and released on the ABC-Paramount label.

“Blues and Other Shades of Green casts Urbie Green in a rare small-group setting, assembling a stellar quintet including guitarist Jimmy Raney, bassist Percy Heath, pianist Dave McKenna, and drummer Kenny Clarke for a crisp, coolly efficient session that leaves just enough wiggle room to allow all of the individual contributors their moment in the spotlight. Green wields both the slide and the valve trombone here, and the simplicity of the arrangements affords his lovely, direct tone the perfect platform to shine. As its title suggests, much of Blues and Other Shades of Green boasts a melancholy atmosphere, and Green is unusually expressive in capturing the emotions that haunt material like “Reminiscent Blues” and “It’s Too Late Now.” Long out of print, it was finally reissued in 2007 on a two-fer CD alongside its 1956 follow-up All About Urbie Green” – Jason Ankeny/AllMusic.

Track listing:
All compositions by Urbie Green, except where noted.

“Reminiscent Blues” – 3:17
“Thou Swell” (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 3:20
“You Are Too Beautiful” (Rodger, Hart) – 4:21
“Paradise” (Nacio Herb Brown, Gordon Clifford) – 3:01
“Warm Valley” (Duke Ellington) – 2:47
“Frankie and Johnny” (Traditional) – 1:49
“One for Dee” – 2:45
“Limehouse Blues” (Philip Braham, Douglas Furber) – 2:02
“Am I Blue?” (Harry Akst, Grant Clarke) – 3:03
“Dirty Dan” – 2:45
“It’s Too Late Now” (Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane) – 3:11

Personnel:
Urbie Green – trombone, valve trombone
Jimmy Raney – guitar
Dave McKenna – piano
Percy Heath – bass
Kenny Clarke – drums

_________________________

Released: 1955
Recorded: October 12, 1955
Studio: Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ
Length: 32:21
Label: ABC-Paramount
ABC-101
Producer: Creed Taylor