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Rodgers Grant, R.I.P.


mikeweil

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Only today I read the news about his passing on April12, 2012, at the age of 77. More info here and here.

Most jazz fans will know him from his long engagement in Mongo Santamaria's band - he was on Mongo's first recording of Watermelon Man (the site I linked first reports the funny story about how he ended up playing that session). He wrote several fine pieces for Mongo's band, and with saxist Pat Patrick he wrote Yeh Yeh, to which Jon Hendricks added lyrics - Georgie Fame made it a top hit.

He was a fine pianist, rather under-represented on recordings - besides 1960's sessions of Mongo and Hubert Laws there is a bit of him on Laws' In The Beginning. He was real great at playing guajeos - the Cuban style ostinatos.

Edited by mikeweil
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He wrote a lovely tune called Morning Star, which guitarists Ed Bickert and Lorne Lofsky just ate up on a record I produced back in 1985. Great changes...

I never knew how to find Mr. Grant to send him a copy of the release. I've recently had it remastered and added some extra tracks. Someday will have enough money to release it again...it's never been on CD.

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