George Green
"Don't get the Blues, get Green's" was one of the slogans of our duo, "The Blues Bothers." We killed audiences across Switzerland, Germany and Italy in the '80s and 90s. Man, George was a Real Gulf Coast drummer, not unlike Earl Palmer, Jr, Fat's longtime drummer. Total Soul Feel and in the moment all the time, looking for those joyful twists Music can take only in the Now.
I absolutely loved it when it was on. No one could top it, and the audiences got it when we gave it. George was on my first Black Top release, "Automatic Overdrive" which Hammond Scott licensed even though he "wanted me to know that Black Top never licensed records." Hammond had heard me at the legendary Roomful 20th year reunion in 1988 and called me shortly afterward.
George was based in Munich, West Germany where he spent so much of his life. He played in my Quartet with the great Hal Singer (between George and myself, he referred to Hal as "The Bird Colonel" because of Hal's authority and a resemblance to Colin Powell.)
...and we would stay up all night telling stories, he had a million of them. He had played with Eddie Taylor, the Stars of Faith, Liz McComb, Jerome Van Jones and so many others, oh my goodness. He was his own bandleader in Munich and had a great scene going on there for decades.
I know wherever he is, he is having a total Ball, because that IS his nature. George, I miss you and love you!
Check out this clip from Bavarian TV of us at the Burghausen Jazz Festival in 1988. It tells all I can tell you about the Man. He was such a great Bad Boy....