Verve Reissues Grant Green’s ‘His Majesty King Funk’
The jazz guitarist’s beloved 1965 record is getting a vinyl release as part of the Verve Acoustic Sounds Series.
Recorded on May 26, 1965, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, His Majesty King Funk stands as guitarist Grant Green’s sole album for Verve and one of the defining soul-jazz statements of the mid-1960s. Produced by Creed Taylor, the session pairs Green with an exceptional lineup — organist Larry Young, tenor saxophonist Harold Vick, drummer Ben Dixon, and conguero Candido Camero — creating a deep, groove-forward sound shaped by the interplay between guitar and organ.
The album unfolds across four extended tracks, including the driving opener “The Selma March,” a topical piece reflecting the year’s civil rights movement, and a spacious reading of “Willow Weep for Me.” Young’s organ work adds harmonic depth and a modern, spacious sensibility, complementing Green’s melodic clarity and signature tone. Vick’s tenor lines amplify the blues and gospel inflections, while Dixon and Candido lay down a propulsive rhythmic foundation that gives the music its unmistakable momentum.
Released during a transitional period for Green — shortly before his brief hiatus from recording — His Majesty King Funk captures the guitarist at a creative intersection between hard bop, R&B, and the emerging soul-jazz sound. Long appreciated by collectors and DJs alike for its rich grooves and distinctive ensemble chemistry, the album remains one of the most sought-after entries in Green’s catalog.
As part of its 70th anniversary in 2026, Verve is marking this release with a celebratory sticker, underscoring the label’s enduring legacy.
The Verve / Acoustic Sounds Series presents all-analog 180-gram vinyl reissues of essential albums from the Verve and Impulse! catalogs. Mastered from the original analog tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) in Kansas, each release pairs top-tier audio fidelity with meticulously reproduced tip-on jackets, offering faithful recreations of the original LPs for discerning listeners.
