Grant Green always brought out the best in
Big John Patton. Almost any record that featured the guitarist and organist was dominated by their scintillating interplay, and it always sounded like they were trying to top each other's blistering, funky solos.
Patton and
Green rarely sounded better than they did on
Got a Good Thing Goin', a 1966 session that functioned as a showcase for the pair's dynamic interaction and exciting, invigorating solos. In particular, the duo's mastery is evident because there are no horns to stand in the way -- only drummer
Hugh Walker and conga player
Richard Landrum provide support, leaving plenty of room for
Green and
Patton to run wild. All five numbers -- two originals by
Patton and
Green, two pop covers ("Ain't That Peculiar," "Shake"), and
Duke Pearson's "Amanda" -- are simple blues and soul-jazz songs that provide ample space for the guitarist and organist to stretch out. And they do stretch out -- as a pair, they have never sounded so fiery or intoxicating. Fans of hard bop may find the songs a little too simple, but hot, up-tempo soul-jazz rarely comes any better than it does on
Got a Good Thing Goin'. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine