Johnny Griffin Juste Amis (live Montreal ’87)

Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis locked horns and raised a little hell during this exciting blowing session that took place at the Café Montmartre in Copenhagen on July 10, 1984. They were aided and abetted by pianist Harry Pickens, bassist Curtis Lundy, and drummer Kenny Washington - the same rhythm section that had performed with Griff at the Berlin Friedrichstadtpalast nearly a month earlier. The original "Tough Tenors" formula dates back to the early '60s when Griff and Jaws collaborated on a series of definitive, mainstream two-tenor albums. This live reunion date is a marvel of spontaneous combustion; the horns cavort and jostle, barking and purling with joyous abandon.

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…

Back in the heyday of bop, Griffin earned a reputation as "the world's fastest saxophonist." Judging by the breakneck tempo he sets on this CD's title cut, you'd think he was trying to hold on to that moniker! Recorded in Paris & Antibes in 1980 & 1981, Live showcases Griffin, pianist Ronnie Mathews, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington performing 3 standards and 2 originals that give the "little giant" plenty of room to blow.

David Bowie - Glass Spider, Live Montreal '87 (2019) {2CD Set Parlophone 0190295511135, Remastered}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 896 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 300 Mb
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© 1987, 2019 Parlophone 0190295511135
Rock / Pop / Experimental Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Glam Rock

Newly remastered versions of the live album. The tour’s innovative set and marriage of music and theatre has been cited as a big inspiration to acts in the 2000’s. Speaking in 1991 about Glass Spider, Bowie said, “It was the first time I'd had the opportunity to spend that kind of money and do shows like that! The first time since Diamond Dogs, anyway … I thought, Right! Let's really spend some money! I had all these thwarted dreams of what I'd tried to do with rock 'n roll in the early '70s”.

This CD reissues a studio date that tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin and his quintet (trumpeter Dave Burns, pianist Norman Simmons, bassist Vic Sproles and drummer Ben Riley) performed before an invited and enthusiastic studio audience, who provided atmosphere. Babs Gonzales introduces several of the numbers, but proves to be an unnecessary presence. However, Griffin in particular plays quite well in this loose straight-ahead setting; Burns shows that he was always a very underrated trumpeter; and the five lengthy selections are all worth hearing. The best are "Good Bait" (which is almost 12½ minutes long), "Toe-Tappin'," and "Low Gravy."

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.