Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Judson Green: Gratitude

Judson Green: Gratitude

By Jack Bowers
July 2, 2021
View read count

It's fairly safe to say that Gratitude, recorded in 2017, is pianist

Judson Green

piano
- 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Judson Green's last album, as he died in August 2020 at age sixty-eight. It's even safer to say that Green, who released half a dozen recordings under his own name, played jazz piano solely for love of the music, as he didn't need to do that to make a living. For almost twenty years Green had a pretty decent day gig as president of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and later, Walt Disney Attractions. He left Disney in 2000 to become president/CEO of NAVTEQ, a NYSE-listed company.

Illinois-born Green, who was always keenly aware of his good fortune, often expressed his Gratitude through philanthropic endeavors (he and his wife donated more than $6 million to the Orlando Performing Arts Center) and here via eighteen of his original compositions including the six-movement Heartland Suite, written in memory of Aaron Copland who inspired him to become a composer. Green also knew his limits, and spends most of his time at the keyboard comping for woodwind specialist

Daniel Jordan

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Jordan or bassist

Ron Jenkins

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Jenkins. Even though jazz—among other music—was dear to his heart, Green understood that his love for the genre couldn't make him another

Art Tatum

piano
1909 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Tatum or

Oscar Peterson

piano
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Peterson. Thus he wisely leans on Jordan and Jenkins to carry the improvisational load.

Green's strong suit is composing, which he does quite well. The songs range from swing to bop, Latin to ballad, each inspired by a place, an event, an idea, a concept or a person that caused Green to put pen to paper. The Caribbean-flavored opener, "Gratitude," encompasses his philosophy of life while recalling a family vacation in Antigua. "Q" was written for jazz composer/producer

Quincy Jones

arranger
1933 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Jones, "Flip Flop" for politicians who blow hot and cold on various issues. "Gentle Rain" recalls Green's college days at Indiana's DePauw University, "Manasota Key" a beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The colorful Heartland Suite, he writes, depicts "certain people, places and experiences common to the heartland of America."

Green doubles on electric piano and even organ (the swinging "Breezy") while Jordan divides his time between tenor saxophone and flute, on each of which he solos capably. Even though the jazz quotient is no better than average, Gratitude is a pleasant listening experience, thanks largely to Green's admirable compositions, expressing a love for jazz that endured to the end of his life. In a postscript, he writes that he wishes to be remembered "for [the] grit (and perseverance) that I exercised in my life; giving to others large and small gifts; and most important, gratitude [to] God for giving me this wonderful opportunity." Judson Green's was a life well-lived, and Gratitude is a luminous and tasteful coda.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Gratitude; He��s Missing His Pants; It��s Coming Back; Q; Freeway Lives; Flip Flop; Gentle Rain; Breezy; And Then Tomorrow; Moving On; Manasota Key; Struttin�� Around; The Heartland Suite (Sunrise/Celebration/Serenity/Joy/Intrigue/Sunset).

Personnel

Judson Green

piano

Daniel Jordan

saxophone, tenor

Ron Jenkins

bass

Walt Hubbard

drums

Album information

Title: Gratitude | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Michael Robinson's Piano Improvisati...
< Previous

Countdown
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.