Griffin

Jimmy Griffin, co-founder of the soft rock super group "BREAD", who's hits "Baby I'm A Want You", "Guitar Man", "Make It With You", "If", "Diary", "Aubrey" "It Don't Matter To Me", and "Sweet Surrender". This CD set gives you an in-depth look at Griffin’s masterful song writing, incredible vocals, and impeccable musicianship. Wraysong Records has been working for years to collect the music of Jimmy Griffin. Martha Griffin gave long time friend Ray Chafin all the recorded material from Jimmy's archives, and Ray has worked diligently to restore and re-master every one, so that he can now share Jimmy's mostly unheard, and some unreleased music with you!

David Gates got all the attention, but James Griffin stood proudly as his cohort during the early days of Bread. Once Bread crumbled, Gates also had hits but Griffin didn’t, despite developing a strong body of work that finally gets anthologized via Hux’s 2013 compilation, Just Like Yesterday: The Solo Anthology 1974-77. During these four years, Griffin released just two albums—1974’s Breakin’ Up Is Easy and 1977’s eponymous LP—and both records are here, along with the bonus tracks of “Just Like Yesterday” and “She Knows,” the latter coming from a May 1974 performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Compared to Gates, Griffin isn’t quite as buttery: his voice is fine-grain sandpaper and he is sometimes happy enough to skirt the boundaries of soft rock, particularly on his 1974 debut.

Best known for co-founding soft rock hitmakers Bread, singer/songwriter James Griffin also won an Academy Award for co-authoring 1970's smash "For All We Know".

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. 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.

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Johnny Griffin & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details. “Tough Tenors”; “Lookin’ At Monk”; “Blues Up And Down” and “Griff & Lock”.
Two tough tenors, indeed! These two titans of the tenor sax both had wildly prolific careers but somehow found the time to come together as a hard blowing unit from 1960-1962. Discovering they had compatible styles on their chosen tenors the pair decided to form their famous quintet where you will hear, rather than perhaps the expected cutting sessions, their styles perfectly complimenting each other…

Patty Griffin has long been one of folk and Americana music’s most celebrated songwriters, with a multi-decade discography that has influenced artists like Linda Ronstadt, Bette Midler, and Solomon Burke. With Tape, she revisits what is surely a vast archive of demos and ideas, pulling together 10 rarities for a collection that adds depth and context to her already acclaimed catalog. The tracks appropriately feel raw and lo-fi, offering listeners a truly intimate experience with one of songwriting’s brightest minds. Highlights include the hopeful “Get Lucky” and “One Day We Could,” which pairs a delightfully jangly acoustic guitar with Griffin’s otherworldly voice.

Johnny Griffin recorded this studio album during his first visit to the United States in 15 years. Accompanied by a very supportive trio (pianist Ronnie Mathews, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Keith Copeland), the great tenor is in frequently exuberant form on such tunes as "Autumn Leaves," his own "A Monk's Dream" and the funky "The Way It Is." Long one of the underrated masters, Johnny Griffin is heard at the peak of his powers on this modern bop session.