Johnny Griffin - Introducing Johnny Griffin

Johnny Griffin had been kicking around in R&B bands for years before his Blue Note debut in 1956. A tenor saxophonist with fresh sounds, a warm, soulful style and the fastest technique in jazz, he moves from lyrical ballads to blistering tempos with ease. Two bonus tracks from the session have been added to the original LP. The first-class accompaniment is provided by Wynton Kelly, Curly Russell and Max Roach. Within two years, Griff would becomes one of the leading tenor saxophonists in jazz as a member of Thelonious Monk's quartet. Album Description

Windy City Whirlwind

This 1956 quartet session includes the stellar Wynton Kelly on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Max Roach on the drums. This album was tenor sax phenom Johnny Griffin's Blue Note debut and the man called the Little Giant doesn't disappoint.

The album begins with a Griffin original, "Mil Dew", taken at breakneck speed with flurries of twisting notes. I don't think I've ever heard a sax player pack as many notes into a phrase as Griffin, yet he manages to remain melodic without seeming like he's showing off, and each passage seems effortless. My favorite track is "Chicago Calling", another Griffin original that Joe Segal refers to as the title track of the session in his original liner notes. (No mention there or in the liner notes for the RVG edition as to why this was changed.) The piece is loose and bluesy, with a rainfall-like Wynton Kelly solo bookended by pulsing Griffin tenor solos. "These Foolish Things" and "The Boy Next Door" are both solid pieces, followed by another cool Griffin-penned piece, "Nice and Easy". The group then tackles Cole Porter's "It's Alright With Me" and the jazz favorite "Lover Man" which closed out the original album. The RVG edition adds two bonus tracks: "The Way You Look Tonight" and a blistering version of "Cherokee" guaranteed to knock your socks off.

Some of Wynton Kelly's finest work can be heard on this album as he ably keeps pace with Griffin, while Russell and Roach serve to keep the high-flying soloists from veering too far off course. The RVG remaster seems especially excellent for this release, particularly the voicing on Kelly's piano. If Johnny Griffin's tone amd musical ability seem outstanding here in 2008, one can only imagine what someone thought after playing this in 1956. Don't miss this one!

July 18, 2008

The bous cut of CHEROKEE alone, is worth the purchase of this CD

I've had this album on vinyl for many many years, but you MUST get the Ruday Van Gelder edition with the two bounus cuts, "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Cherokee". Griffin is such an unsung hero here in the US. Thank GOD Europe and Asia recognize his greatness. Griffin, like Charlie Rouse are two of the best tenor players that ever lived. In my honest opinion, Rouse was the best tenor player for Thelonious Monk, but Griffin has that SPEED along with creativity but never lets you forget the melody while he is flying through his solo's. So many other "great" tenor players, play solos that have nothing to do with the song. If you listen to Griffin's solo's alone, you know which songs they come from.I hate when a player takes a solo that has nothing to do with the song they are playing on. Griffin is GREAT. This album is GREAAT. The bonus cuts, especially the great Ray Noble song "CHEROKEE" make this reissue a real gem. January 10, 2008

The Little Giant Blows Up A Storm!

One listen to this 1956 Blue Note recording and you'll be hooked on Johnny Griffin. This is an excellent straight-ahead blowing session from the then 28 year old Chicagoan. Mr. Griffin is a virtuoso of the tenor saxophone who can navigate bop tunes at breakneck tempos and caress the most beautiful of ballads. The session features Max Roach, Curly Russell, and Wynton Kelly. Included is Johnny's memorable theme Chicago Calling which was later revisited on the 1990 cd The Cat. In addition, this album includes Johnny's great rendition of Lover Man. The 2007 RVG Edition also features two bonus tracks, The Way You Look Tonight, and Cherokee. A great re-issue! December 13, 2007

A Classic Recording From a Now Unknown Legend (At Least Here in America)

While in my late 20-years, I do collect & buy jazz reissue. I'd never heard of this man until I purchase this CD (then I remember that he played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messagers in the late 1950s (the tenor saxophonist on the 1957 jazz Messagers with Monk recording).

This is classic jazz at its finest with 9 songs of originals & standards (the last 2 were not in the 1956 LP release & won't see the light of day until the CD era). Griffin can really play the tenor horn, but because he made an exdous from the US in the early 1960s, he's not as well known here as he should be.

Besides the disc, you get a booklet with the original liner notes, a new eassy from Bob Blumenthal, among with rare photos.


August 4, 2007

Essential Listening

This is a 'must have' recording. The only thing better than this is having heard Mr. Griffin perform live. One might quibble about the sound quality, yet it is all good ;)

Buy it while Mr. Griffin is still alive to enjoy the royalties.

Peace,

paul February 12, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...