The third of three sessions
Grant Green
co-led with
modal
organist
Larry Young
and
Coltrane
drummer
Elvin Jones
,
I Want to Hold Your Hand
continues in the soft, easy style of its predecessor,
Street of Dreams
. This time, however -- as one might guess from the title and cover photo -- the flavor is less reflective and more romantic and outwardly engaging. Part of the reason is tenor saxophonist
Hank Mobley
, who takes
Bobby Hutcherson
's place accompanying the core trio. His breathy, sensuous warmth keeps the album simmering at a low boil, and some of the repertoire helps as well, mixing romantic
ballad
standards
(often associated with vocalists) and gently undulating
bossa novas
. The title track -- yes, the
Beatles
tune -- is one of the latter, cleverly adapted and arranged into perfectly viable
jazz
that suits
Green
's elegant touch with
pop
; the other
bossa nova
Jobim
's
"Corcovado,"
is given a wonderfully caressing treatment. Even with all the straightforward
overtones of much of the material, the quartet's playing is still very subtly advanced, both in its rhythmic interaction and the soloists' harmonic choices. Whether augmented by an extra voice or sticking to the basic trio format, the
/
Young
Jones
team produced some of the most sophisticated organ/guitar combo music ever waxed, and
is the loveliest of the bunch. ~ Steve Huey