Johnny Johnny Griffin

This formerly obscure quartet set by tenor-saxophonist Johnny Griffin (reissued on CD in the OJC series) features the fiery soloist on five little-known originals written by Chicagoans plus a burning version of "Cherokee." Virtually all of Griffin's recordings are worth getting and, with the assistance of pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Philly Joe Jones, the tenor is in superior form for this spirited date.

A bit of an offbeat session for tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, The Little Giant features three originals by then-obscure pianist Norman Simmons, a reworking of the pop tune "Playmates," Babs Gonzalez's "Lonely One," and the tenorist's "63rd Street Theme." Simmons' arrangements for the three horns (which include trumpeter Blue Mitchell and trombonist Julian Priester) are colorful; the rhythm section (pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath) is state of the art for the period, and Griffin (who is featured in a trio with Jones and Heath on "Lonely One") is in fine form. An interesting set of obscure straight-ahead jazz.

This album is very much the kid brother of records like Sonny Rollins' Newk's Time, where the presence of a pianist and bassist was almost incidental to the heated interplay between Rollins and drummer Philly Joe Jones. On this record, the drum chair is filled by the great Kenny Clarke, and he is in crackling form throughout this album, really driving Griffin to some creative work. Pianist Francy Boland, the co-leader with Clarke of Europe's fantastic Clarke-Boland Big Band, largely gets out of the way, comping minimally and turning in an occasional rolling, rhythmic solo. Despite being made in the mid-60s, the album refreshingly ignores Coltrane-isms in favour of a sort of Ornette Coleman-influenced hard bop of the type Jackie McLean was recording at the time…

This fine 1993 release finds Griffin's in the company of such stellar guest soloists as trombonist Steve Turre, tuba player Dave Bargeron, and French horn player John Clark; the band's core is made up by Griffin's then regular quartet featuring pianist Michael Weiss, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington. This supple but tight ensemble ably handle Griffin's rich store of seven originals and a cover of Cole Porter's "All Through the Night."

Teamed up with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath for a club date at Copenhagen's Montmartre in 1967 (reissued on CD by Black Lion), the great tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin really stretches out on four numbers: "The Man I Love," "Hush-A-Bye," "Blues for Harvey" and a memorable version of "The Masquerade Is Over." Griffin shows why he was early on billed as "the world's fastest tenor" although he also displays warmth on "Sophisticated Lady." A fine example of Griffin's underrated talents.

Johnny Griffin is heard in a pair of dates recorded in 1972 at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, joined by fellow American expatriates Kenny Drew and Ed Thigpen, along with bassist Mads Vinding. Most of this album is devoted to Griffin's originals. His piercing, extended blues "That Party Upstairs" is followed by a somber ballad "Alone Again" (not the bland Gilbert O'Sullivan pop hit "Along Again (Naturally)," as listed in some discographies). His remake of his early composition "Soft and Furry" features Vinding's delightful arco bass in octave unison with Griffin's tenor sax. The furious uptempo "Blues for Harvey" gives way to a turbulent pair of choruses of Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning."

One of the all-time great tenor saxophonists, Johnny Griffin will go down in the annals of jazz as a performer easily able to negotiate the tricky harmonic changes and swift tempos of modern music. He'll also be remembered as a player who could masterfully interpret tender ballads, rivaling Ben Webster in that regard.

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.

One of the all-time great tenor saxophonists, Johnny Griffin will go down in the annals of jazz as a performer easily able to negotiate the tricky harmonic changes and swift tempos of modern music. He'll also be remembered as a player who could masterfully interpret tender ballads, rivaling Ben Webster in that regard.
Clémentine is a French singer and songwriter based in Japan. In 1988 released her first single, "Absolument Jazz" with CBS France. Signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan in 1990, and released many singles and albums.
Recorded at Gema Studio in Barcelona, October 29/30, 1987 and at Family Sound Studio in Paris, December 13/14, 1987.

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.