Pianist and composer Andrew Hill had established a formidable and captivating body of work on Blue Note by the time he recorded Grass Roots in 1968. This album, part of his prolific output for the label spanning 1963-2006, showcases Hill's heady brilliance and creative genius through his five original compositions. Accompanied by a quintet of talented musicians, including Lee Morgan on trumpet and Booker Ervin on tenor saxophone, Hill's intention with Grass Roots was not to prove himself, but rather to connect with listeners and bring joy through his music. "Getting down to the basics, getting down as deep as you can into feeling" is what grass roots represent in music, and this album delivers with its feel-good title track, festive "Mira," and propulsive "Soul Special."
