Personnel:
René Thomas (g), JR. Monterose (ts), Hod O'Brien (p), Teddy Kotick (b), Albert 'Tootie' Heath (d)
Reference: JW-032 LP
Format: LP / 12" / 33rpm / STEREO
Label: JAZZ WORKSHOP
Catalogue Reference: JW-032
Recording Year: 1960
Country of Pressing: SPAIN
Comments: Sealed New Copy
Reissue of the original Jazzland JLP-927 S
Cover Grade: MINT
Vinyl Grade: MINT
Side One:
1. Spontaneous Effort 5:18
2. Ruby, My Dear 4:47
3. Like Someone in Love 5:52 (*)
4. M.T.C. 4:23
Side Two:
1. Milestones 5:49
2. How Long Has This Been Going On? 5:59 (#)
3. Green Street Scene 7:36
(*) No tenor on this selection
(#) No tenor or piano
Originally issued in Stereo on JAZZLAND JLP-927 S
Personnel:
René Thomas (guitar), JR. Monterose (tenor sax), Hod O'Brien (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Albert 'Tootie' Heath (drums).
Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, New York City, September 7 & 8, 1960
Session supervised & liner notes by Orrin Keepnews
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Review:
"European guitarist Rene Thomas made his debut as a leader with this 1960 date for the Jazzland label. Residing in Quebec at the time, Thomas is joined by an American cast of characters on Guitar Groove. In the bass chair is Teddy Kotick, one-time member of the Horace Silver and Bill Evans groups. Tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose joins the quintet, fresh from the dates for his own The Message. Albert "Tootie" Heath, then in between stints with J.J. Johnson and the Jazztet, lends his drum work, and Hod O'Brien fills in the gaps on piano. These are session musicians of the highest order: skilled improvisers who always know when to make concessions to a group setting.
In addition to the three original numbers on hand, the quintet dips into the book of jazz standards, rendering Burke and VanHeusen's "Like Someone in Love," Gershwin's "How Long Has This Been Going On?," Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear," and Miles Davis' "Milestones." At times the players are almost too polite, though the spark provided by Heath's snare punctuation and vibrant fills generally keep the band on the ball. "Thomas" himself is in fine, refined form, his sound an exquisitely enunciated flow of cool tones. He reserves "How Long" for himself, stretching out over six minutes, accompanied only by Heath's brushwork and Kotick's reserved bass playing. Though he's made substantial contributions to dates with Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, and others, Guitar Groove is arguably Thomas' strongest date as leader."
Nathan Bush -All Music Guide
