Grass Roots is a studio album by American pianist Andrew Hill featuring performances recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.Andrew Hill discography accessed September 30, 2010 The original album features Hill with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Freddie Waits performing five of his originals. The 2000 CD reissue added alternate versions of three of the pieces (and two additional compositions) recorded by a sextet with trumpeter Woody Shaw, tenor saxophonist Frank Mitchell, guitarist Jimmy Ponder, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Idris Muhammad at an earlier session as bonus tracks.
Reception The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4 stars stating "the songs have strong melodies, even hooks, to bring casual listeners in, but they give the musicians the freedom to find a distinctive voice in their solos".Erlewine, S. T. [ Allmusic Review] accessed September 30, 2010
Track listing All compositions by Andrew Hill
"Grass Roots" - 5:41 "Venture Inward" - 4:46 "Mira" - 6:20 "Soul Special" - 8:22 "Bayou Red" - 7:45 "MC" - 9:11 Bonus track on CD reissue "Venture Inward" [First Version] - 4:34 Bonus track on CD reissue "Soul Special" [First Version] - 8:51 Bonus track on CD reissue "Bayou Red" [First Version] - 5:59 Bonus track on CD reissue "Love Nocturne" - 7:33 Bonus track on CD reissue
Personnel Andrew Hill - piano Lee Morgan (tracks 1–5), Woody Shaw (tracks 6–10) - trumpet Booker Ervin (tracks 1–5), Frank Mitchell (tracks 6–10) - tenor saxophone Jimmy Ponder - guitar (tracks 6–10) Ron Carter (tracks 1–5), Reggie Workman (tracks 6–10) - bass Idris Muhammad (tracks 6–10), Freddie Waits (tracks 1–5) - drums
References