Thurman Green: Dance of the Night Creatures

Thurman Green was one of those jazzmen who spends his career doing studio work. He was 54 when he made this, his first record under his own name, and he died just three years later. The notes portray Green as a quietly positive family man, and similar qualities are evident in his music; his trombone solos and writing are thoughtful and his overriding concern with the group sound is evident. One suspects that experience gained in the studio trenches contributes to Green’s ability to write attractive, slowly-developing themes, but there are some fairly avant pieces and a cover of “Struttin’ With Some Barbecue” for variety. The impetus for this session was Hamiet Bluiett, who played with Green in a Navy band in the early ’60s. Bluiett invited the trombonist to lead this date and lent his distinctive baritone to a group including pianist John Hicks. To judge from this solid outing, it really is a pity Green didn’t start making jazz records much sooner.

Originally Published November 1, 1999