NDR BIGBAND — Bravissimo : 50 Years NDR Big Band (1996) Serie : The World Greatest Jazz Orchestras – II | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"An excellent cross-section of the music of one of the best jazz orchestras in Europe" - (DER SPIEGEL) ACT
Tracklist :
1    The Cat 6:04
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – J.Griffin
2    Blue Monk 7:14
Arranged By – Stan Tracey
Written-By – T.Monk
3    Voodoo Chile 5:17
Arranged By – Howard Johnson
Written-By – J.Hendrix
4    Sagma 5:19
Arranged By – Joki Freund
Written-By – H.Sauer
5    Night In Tunesia 9:27
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – D.Gillespie
6    Take The A-Train 4:22
Arranged By – Steve Gray
Written-By – B.Strayhorn
7    Supraconductivity 5:30
Arranged By – Joki Freund
Written-By – A.Mangelsdorff
8    Sister Sadie
Arranged By – Lex Jasper
Written-By – Horace Silver
9    Mood Indigo
Arranged By – Hans Hammerschmid
Written-By – D.Ellington
10    Django
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – J.Lewis
11    Descent
Arranged By – Ralf Hübner
Written-By – Ch. Lauer
12    Country Roads
Arranged By – Michael Gibbs
Written-By – B.Burton
Credits :
NDR Bigband conducted by Dieter Glawischnig
except #3 - Rob Pronk, #8 - Jiggs Wigham, #12 - Michael Gibbs

KLAUS DOLDINGER — Doldinger's Best (2000) ACT Jazz Classics Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    The Quartett–    Blues For George    6:08
2    Klaus Doldinger And Peter Trunk–    Two Getting Together    6:04
3    The Quartett–    Minor Kick    4:13
4    The Quartett + Volker Kriegel–    Quartenwalzer    4:56
5    The Quartett + Attila Zoller–    Fiesta    4:30
6    The Quartett + Attila Zoller–    Viva Brasilia    3:55
7    Paul Nero Sounds–    Guachi Guaro    3:32
8    The Quartett–    Raga Up And Down    7:30
9    The Quartett–    Saragossa    6:39
10    NDR-Jazz-Workshop-Band With Klaus Doldinger, Johnny Griffin, Sahib Shihab, Benny Bailey, Donald Byrd–    Waltz Of The Jive Cats    3:02
11    Paul Nero's Blue Sounds–    Comin' Home Baby    2:33
12    Doldinger's Motherhood–    I Feel Free    4:03
13    Etta James, Klaus Doldinger, David Newman, Herbie Man, Richard Tee, Steve Jordan–    Stormy Monday Blues    7:45
14    Passport + Les McCann, Johnny Griffin, Philip Catherine, Pete York–    Compared To What    5:02

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 922 (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The sixth CD in Classics' series of Lionel Hampton records documents his music during a one-year period. Hampton's big band, riding high after "Flying Home," continued to grow in popularity during this era. The vibraphonist's showmanship and his sidemen's extroverted solos generated constant excitement, as can be heard throughout these 20 selections. With the exception of Dinah Washington's lone vocal on "Blow Top Blues" and the original version of "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop," most of the selections were formerly a bit rare, including a pair of rollicking V-disc performances ("Vibe Boogie" and "Screamin' Boogie"). Hampton is heard on 14 numbers with his big band (which included such key sidemen as trumpeter Joe Morris, tenorman Arnett Cobb, the eccentric Herbie Fields on alto and clarinet, and pianist Milt Buckner), four workouts with a septet, and two tunes (including a pair of vocals) with a rhythm quartet. Bing Crosby guests on so-so versions of "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street" (sounding very much out of place), but otherwise, everything works. Stirring and accessible music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 946 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The bulk of this CD features the Lionel Hampton Big Band, an exciting orchestra that had roots in swing and was open to the influence of bebop, but also helped set the stage for somewhat exhibitionistic R&B. With a screaming trumpet section that included Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Wilder, and Leo "The Whistler" Shepherd (all who could play first trumpets) and both Arnett Cobb and Johnny Griffin on tenors, along with such soloists as trombonist Booty Wood, pianist Milt Buckner, and Hampton himself, this must have been a very difficult ensemble to defeat in "battle of the bands" contests. Best among the big band selections are "Cobb's Idea," "Adam Blew His Hat," and "Playboy." Also on this easily enjoyable disc are a quintet set that showcases Hampton's vibes and an octet session drawn from the big band that plays four songs, including "Double Talk" and "Jack the Fox Boogie."  Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

WYNONIE HARRIS – 1947-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1139 (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third in the Classics label's series of the recordings of Wynonie Harris traces the blues/early R&B singer's career from just before the recording strike of 1948 up until the end of 1949. The seven sessions (all originally recorded for King) are not as well-known as Harris' earlier material, but they definitely have their moments of interest. Harris is typically exuberant throughout, and the highlights include "Wynonie's Boogie," "Good Morning Mr. Blues," "Crazy Love," "Good Rockin' Tonight" (a major hit), "Grandma Plays the Numbers," "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," and "All She Wants to Do Is Rock." Heard from in the impressive backup groups are trumpeters "Hot Lips" Page, Jesse Drakes, Cat Anderson, and Joe Morris, along with tenors Hal Singer, Tom Archia, and Johnny Griffin. Highly recommended, as are the first two Harris Classics CDs. Fun music. Scott Yanow
All Tracks & Credits :

THE JOHNNY GRIFFIN AND EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS QUINTET - Tough Tenors (1960-2003) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

If one feels their music getting a bit stale, perhaps a little too predictable, then they have a couple choices. They can dig back into their roots to reconnect with the music they love, or they can go head to head with a counterpoint in an effort to create sparks. Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis choose the latter course in Tough Tenors, turning a half-dozen pieces into an enticing mix of edgy solos and synchronized ensemble playing. The fun stuff here bops along at a giddy pace, letting Griffin and Davis trade their tough leads, while pianist Junior Mance offers a slight pause with his swift keyboarding. Lester Young's "Tickle Toe" kicks off the affair with aplomb, and Davis/Griffin's "Twins" provides plenty of room for explosive solo work. The album's center rests with the nine-minute take on Bennie Green's "Flunky Flute," a spontaneous piece that eventually -- because of the players' intensity -- becomes an endurance test. The medium tempo of "Soft Winds" qualifies as a ballad for these guys, and the mellow groove makes it an easygoing closer. Bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley also do a fine job of keeping this boisterous crew on the ground. Tough Tenors is one of the many amazing jazz recordings from 1960, and will please saxophone fans, Davis/Griffin fans, and anyone who enjoys classic hard bop. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist :
1     Tickle Toe 5'30
Lester Young
2     Save Your Love for Me 7'09
Buddy Johnson
3     Twins 6'35
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis / Johnny Griffin
4     Funky Fluke 9'16
Bernie Green
5     Imagination 4'29
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
6     Soft Winds 7'17
Benny Goodman / Fletcher Henderson
Credits :
Bass – Larry Gales
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Junior Mance
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN AND EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS QUINTET - Lookin' At Monk (1961-1998) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Originally recorded in 1961, this tribute program features two of the best tenor saxophonists of the period along with pianist Junior Mance and a rhythm section composed of bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley (both of whom would later work as Thelonious Monk sidemen). If the program seems a bit obvious ("'Round Midnight," "Epistrophy," "Well, You Needn't," etc.), bear in mind that this was only the second all-Monk program anyone had recorded and several of these numbers had yet to attain standard status. The playing is uniformly inventive and witty (both required attributes when approaching this repertoire), and Mance is particularly to be commended for maintaining a graceful and elegant attack and not trying to praise Monk by imitation. If there's a complaint to be made here, it's with the tempos, which sometimes verge on the headlong. The arrangement of "Well, You Needn't" suffers from too much forward momentum, as does "I Mean You." On the other hand, the group's vigorous approach to "Rhythm-A-Ning" (and the honking two-note tag they append to the head) is perfect. Rick Anderson  
Tracklist :
1     In Walked Bud 4'34
Thelonious Monk
2     Well, You Needn't 5'31
Thelonious Monk
3     Ruby, My Dear 4'39
Thelonious Monk
4     Rhythm-A-Ning 3'53
Thelonious Monk
5     Epistrophy 8'36
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
6     'Round Midnight 5'26
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
7     Stickball (I Mean You) 5'52
Coleman Hawkins / Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Larry Gales
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Junior Mance
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (pistas: 1 to 5, 7), Johnny Griffin (pistas: 1, 2, 4 to 7)

EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS & JOHNNY GRIFFIN - Live at Minton's (1961-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This duo (tenor saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin) made about a dozen LPs together, most for Jazzland and Prestige, and they are all worth investigating. They had a special affinity for pianist Thelonious Monk's music, and while there were other sets which emphasize that better, the Monk pieces ("Straight No Chaser"/"In Walked Bud") included in the program on this live set were among the highlights. Bob Rusch
Tracklist :
 1     Billie's Bounce 8'43
Charlie Parker
2     Epistrophy 7'17
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
3     Well, You Needn't 8'58
Thelonious Monk
4     In Walked Bud 6'14
Thelonious Monk
5     Land of Dreams 7'52
Norman Gimbel / Eddie Heywood
6     Bean O 6'42
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis    
7     Robbins Nest 10'12
Illinois Jacquet / Bob Russell / Sir Charles Thompson
8     Our Delight 7'17
Tadd Dameron
9     Dee Dee's Dance 6'12
Denzil Best
10     Epistrophy 8'46
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Larry Gales
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Junior Mance
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis

JOHNNY GRIFFIN | EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS - Pisces (1962-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

When Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis entered a New York studio with producer Orrin Keepnews on May 3, 1962, they did some things that were unusual for the two-tenor team. They played mostly ballads, they didn't engage in any tenor battles and -- most surprising of all -- they didn't perform together on any of the tunes. Griffin was featured on four songs, Davis on another four. The same rhythm section -- Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Art Taylor -- was always present, but Parlan played piano on the songs featuring Griffin and celeste on the songs featuring Davis. For whatever reason, the performances remained in the can for 42 years; they weren't even mastered until 1966, and they finally saw the light of day when Fantasy released Pisces in 2004. Pisces begs the following question: why, in God's name, would two saxmen who had as strong a rapport as Griffin and Davis not perform together when they were in the studio at the same time? Emphasizing ballads was an excellent idea, but wouldn't it have made more sense for them to do it as co-leaders of a quintet? According to jazz critic Larry Hollis -- who wrote Pisces' informative liner notes -- Griffin and Davis' decision to play separately had to do with the fact that they "didn't want to be stereotyped as merely a two-tenor team." In any event, both saxmen are in good form on this CD, which is enjoyable whether the soloist is Griffin on "Willow Weep for Me" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" or Davis on "Midnight Sun" and "Yesterdays." For Griffin and Davis, deciding to play separately on May 3, 1962 was probably a mistake; even so, Pisces is a noteworthy (if less than essential) album that shouldn't have gone unreleased for so long. Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1    Johnny Griffin–    Pisces 4'10
Written-By – Johnny Griffin
2    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Midnight Sun 4'34
Written-By – Mercer, Hampton, Burke
3    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me 4'30
Written-By – Ann Ronell
4    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered 3'41
Written-By – Hart, Rodgers
5    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
6    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way 4'29
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
7    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Yesterdays 4'15
Written-By – Kern, Harbach
8    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Mills, Parish
9    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me [Alternate] 4'46
Written-By – Ronell
10    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way [Alternate] 4'13
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
11    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady [Alternate] 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Irving Mills, Parish
12    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? [Alternate] 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Celesta – Horace Parlan (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Horace Parlan (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)
Producer [Original] – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12), Johnny Griffin (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)

THE JOHNNY GRIFFIN AND 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS QUINTET - Tough Tenor Favorites (1962-1995) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, the two "tough tenors" in question, always made for an exciting team. With pianist Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Ben Riley completing the quintet for this CD reissue of a Jazzland date from 1962, Griff and Lockjaw are in top form and quite competitive on a variety of standards. Highlights include "Blue Lou," "Ow," "I Wished on the Moon" and "From This Moment On." The main winner in these fiery tenor "battles" is the listener. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Bahia 5'53
Written-By – Ary Barroso
2    Blue Lou 4'41
Written-By – Sampson, Mills
3    How Am I To Know 4'54
Written-By – Parker, King
4    Ow! 4'20
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    I Wished On The Moon 6'39
Written By – Rainger / Parker
6    Tin Tin Deo 5'42
Written-By – Chano Pozo
7    From This Moment On 6'02
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Horace Parlan
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin

EDDIE "LOCKJAW" DAVIS & JOHNNY GRIFFIN - Battle Stations (1963-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin joined forces and formed a two-tenor front line, bop enthusiasts could safely assume that the sparks were going to fly. Davis and Griffin, after all, were one of hard bop's exciting tenor teams -- their saxophone battles were as legendary as the encounters of Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, or Phil Woods and Gene Quill (who, unlike the other teams mentioned here, were a two-alto pair). Battle Stations, like other Davis/Griffin encounters, points to the fact that the two tenormen never had a problem finding common ground. Both had big tones; both were very extroverted, aggressive players; and both swung unapologetically hard -- no one ever mistook either of them for members of jazz's cool school, which favored subtlety, restraint, and understatement over intensity and aggression. A sense of friendly competition is evident on Battle Stations; when Davis and Griffin lock horns, the result is musical sportsmanship at its finest. And "friendly" is the operative word on this 1960 date -- as competitive as Davis and Griffin could be, they had a great deal of respect for one another. Battle Stations (which employs Norman Simmons on piano, Victor Sproles on bass, and Ben Riley on drums) demonstrates that the saxmen were not only sparring partners, they were also a mutual admiration society, and the improvisers enjoy an incredibly strong rapport on hard-swinging numbers like "Pull My Coat," "Hey Jim!," and "What's Happening." Battle Stations is an album that fans of heated two-tenor exchanges shouldn't overlook.  Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1     What's Happening 6'51
Fletcher Henderson
2     Abundance 6'54
Norman Simmons
3     If I Had You 6'45
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
4     63rd Street Theme 7'12
Johnny Griffin
5     Pull My Coat 6'40
Richard Evans
6     Hey Jim! 8'00
Babs Gonzales / James Moody
7     Billie's Bounce 11'17
Charlie Parker
8     Theme 1'06
Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Larry Gales (pistas: 7, 8), Vic Sproles (pistas: 1 to 6)
Drums – Ben Riley (pistas: 1 to 8)
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder (pistas: 1 to 6)
Piano – Junior Mance (pistas: 7, 8), Norman Simmons (pistas: 1 to 6)
Remastered By [Remaster] – Joe Tarantino
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN & EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS - Tough Tenors Back Again! (1984-2008) FLAC (tracks), lossless

During 1960-63, Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis teamed up in a two-tenor quintet, inspiring each other to play at their most intense and swinging on a nightly basis. After the band's breakup, Griffin and Davis occasionally had reunions that found them playing as heatedly as ever. This 1998 CD, which released a particularly exciting encounter at Copenhagen's Montmartre in 1984 for the first time, has what might have been their last matchup since Lockjaw passed away two years later. With pianist Harry Pickens, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Kenny Washington keeping the momentum moving, the two tough tenors battle it out on a variety of basic material, including "Blues Up and Down" (which has a colorful chorus of conversational commentary by the two tenors before their solos), "Funky Fluke" and "Lester Leaps In." Throughout the heated bebop date, Griffin and Davis are heard at the peak of their powers, and the results are quite memorable. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blues Up and Down 10'48
Gene Ammons / Sonny Stitt
2     Oh Gee 9'55
Matthew Gee
3     Call It What You Wanna 10'40
Johnny Griffin
4     Funky Fluke 12'09
Bernie Green
5     Hey Lock 14'41
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
6     Lester Leaps In 11'16
Lester Young
7     Intermission Riff 2'42
Ray Wetzel
Credits :
Bass – Curtis Lundy
Drums – Kenny Washington
Piano – Harry Pickens
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN & LOCKJAW DAVIS - Johnny Griffin & Lockjaw Davis in Copenhagen (1984-2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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. Sadly, this recording lands near the end of the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' discography. He was recorded in Europe by producer Norman Granz in 1985, retreated back to the U.S. and passed away in Culver City, CA in November of 1986. This is a reissue of Storyville (#8298), released in 1998 as Tough Tenors Back Again!. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1     Blues Up and Down 10'49
Gene Ammons / Sonny Stitt
2     Oh, Gee 9'57
Matthew Gee
3     Call It What You Wanna 10'38
Johnny Griffin
4     Funky Fluke 12'12
5     Hey Lock 14'42
6     Lester Leaps In 11'17
Lester Young
7     Intermission Riff 3'20
Ray Wetzel
Credits :
Bass – Curtis Lundy
Drums – Kenny Washington
Piano – Harry Pickens
Tenor Saxophone – Lockjaw Davis, Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - Introducing Johnny Griffin (1956-2007) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A seminal date that shows Griffin's speed, technique, and power. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Mil Dew 3'57
Johnny Griffin
2     Chicago Calling 5'38
Johnny Griffin
3     These Foolish Things 5'11
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
4     The Boy Next Door 4'57
H. Martin, R. Blaine
5     Nice and Easy 4'23
Johnny Griffin
6     It's All Right with Me 5'03
Cole Porter
7     Lover Man 7'56
Davis, Sherman, Ramirez    
8     The Way You Look Tonight 6'23
D. Fields, J. Kern
9     Cherokee 4'17
Ray Noble
Credits :
Bass – Curly Russell
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Wynton Kelly
Recorded By, Remastered By [2006 24-bit Pcm Remaster] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - J.G (1956-2004) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

As a CD reissue, it's a crime that this very first outing by Johnny Griffin as a leader is only available from Japan in an irritating paper sleeve that comes apart down the center. OK, enough bitching. Here's the skinny: Griffin's first date featured the saxophonist in the company of Junior Mance on piano, bassist Wilbur Ware, and session drummer Buddy Smith. The program features eight tunes that were fairly standard fare for jazzmen in 1956, such as "These Foolish Things," Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays," and the Youmans-Greene nugget "The Boy Next Door." These are played with the requisite verve and mastery of harmony, rhythm, and melodic changes, but they don't really stand out. What does stand out in this program are Griffin's originals, such as "Satin Wrap," which has since been covered by any tenor player worth his mouthpiece. It's a funky blues number that does not fall headlong into the hard bop swinging that would be so pervasive in the tenorist's style. Instead there are more formalist notions that suggest Paul Gonsalves and Coleman Hawkins. In addition, the album-closer, "Lollypop," comes out swinging hard with an R&B hook that digs in. Mance propels Griffin with fat, greasy chords that suggest a Chicago bar-walking honk frenzy, but Griffin's own playing is too sophisticated and glides like Lester Young around the changes. Also notable here is Ware's beautiful bop run "Riff Raff." The bassist knew not only how to write for but arrange for horns. Mance and Griffin are in it knee-deep, note for note, with Mance adding beefy left-hand clusters to the melody as Ware and Smith play it straight time until the solo, when the middle breaks up and everybody goes in a different direction. It's got the hard bop blues at its root. This recording is brief, as it originally came out on a 10" LP, but is nonetheless a necessary addition to any shelf that pays Johnny Griffin homage.
|| This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' ||
Tracklist :
 1     I Cried for You 3'37
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
2     Satin Wrap 3'05
Johnny Griffin
3     Yesterdays 2'31
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
4     Riff-Raff 3'10
Wilbur Ware
5     Bee-Ees 3'52
Johnny Griffin
6     The Boy Next Door 3'18
Otto Harbach / Vincent Youmans
7     These Foolish Things 3'36
Harry Link / Jack Strachey
8     Lollypop 3'03
Johnny Griffin
Credits :
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Buddy Smith
Piano – Junior Mance
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - The Congregation (1957-2005) RM | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin is heard in top form on this near-classic quartet set. Assisted by pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Kenny Dennis, Griffin is exuberant on "The Congregation" (which is reminiscent of Horace Silver's "The Preacher"), thoughtful on the ballads, and swinging throughout. It's recommended for bop collectors. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Congregation 6'46
Johnny Griffin
2     Latin Quarter 6'27
John Jenkins
3     I'm Glad There Is You 5'10
Jimmy Dorsey / Paul Mertz
4     Main Spring 6'23
Johnny Griffin
5     It's You or No One 4'51
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
6     I Remember You 7'29
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
Credits :
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Kenny Dennis
Illustration [Cover] – Andy Warhol
Piano – Sonny Clark
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - A Blowin' Session (1957-1999) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A Blowin' Session is one of the greatest hard bop jam sessions ever recorded; it is filled with infectious passion and camaraderie. It's also the only time tenor saxophonists Johnny Griffin and John Coltrane would play together on record. Initially Coltrane wasn't scheduled to be on this date, but Griffin saw him on his way to Rudy Van Gelder's studio and asked him to join the remaining musicians, third tenor Hank Mobley, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Blakey. These musicians were all associates within the same East Coast hard bop scene of the time; they came from the Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis' quintet, and many had played with Dizzy Gillespie's big band. Showcased on this April 8, 1957, session are two standards, "The Way You Look Tonight" and "All the Things You Are," along with two original Griffin compositions, "Ball Bearing" and "Smoke Stack." (An added bonus on the 1999 Rudy Van Gelder remastered edition is an alternate take of "Smoke Stack.") Of special note is "The Way You Look Tonight," featuring the three tenors trading off with complexity and speed that is still astonishing, especially in the case of Griffin (dubbed the world's fastest saxophonist) and Coltrane's ability to navigate complex chord changes over a fast tempo. Al Campbell  
Tracklist :
1     The Way You Look Tonight 9'40
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
2     Ball Bearings 8'10
Johnny Griffin
3     All the Things You Are 10'14
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
4     Smoke Stack 10'13
Johnny Griffin
5     Smoke Stack 11'00
Johnny Griffin
Credits :
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Art Blakey
Piano – Wynton Kelly
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Reissue Producer – Michael Cuscuna
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Johnny Griffin
Trumpet – Lee Morgan

JOHNNY GRIFFIN SEXTET - The Little Giant (1959-1995) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Olive Refractions 4:15
Written-By – Norman Simmons
2 The Message 7:20
Written-By – Norman Simmons
3 Lonely One 4:13
Written-By – Babs Gonsalez
4 63rd Street Theme 7:34
Written-By – Johnny Griffin
5 Playmates 4:18
Written-By – Saxie Dowell
6 Venus And The Moon 6:29
Written-By – Norman Simmons
Credits
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Albert Heath
Piano – Wynton Kelly (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6)
Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
Trombone – Julian Priester (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6)
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6)

JOHNNY GRIFFIN ORCHESTRA - The Big Soul-Band (1960-1990) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor-saxophonist Johnny Griffin is showcased with a ten-piece group on this CD reissue of a Riverside LP which is augmented by a previously unreleased version of "Wade in the Water." The repertoire is a bit unusual with some spirituals (including "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" and "Deep River"), a tune apiece by Bobby Timmons ("So Tired") and Junior Mance, and three originals from Norman Simmons who arranged all of the selections. Trumpeter Clark Terry and trombonists Matthew Gee and Julian Priester have some short solos but the emphasis is on the leader who is in typically spirited and passionate form. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Wade in the Water (Alternate Take) 3'51
Traditional
2     Wade in the Water 3'47
Traditional
3     Panic Room Blues 4'37
Norman Simmons
4     Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen 2'43
Traditional
5     Meditation 8'21
Norman Simmons
6     Holla 3'39
Norman Simmons
7     So Tired 6'38
Bobby Timmons
8     Deep River 5'29
Traditional
9     Jubilation 3'57
Junior Mance
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Frank Strozier, Pat Patrick (pistas: 1, 2, 3, 8)
Arranged By – Norman Simmons
Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Davis
Bass – Bob Cranshaw (pistas: 1, 2, 3, 8), Vic Sproles (pistas: 4 to 7, 9)
Celesta – Bobby Timmons (pistas: 4)
Drums – Charlie Persip
Piano – Bobby Timmons (pistas: 5), Harold Mabern (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 9)
Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Tenor Saxophone – Edwin Williams, Johnny Griffin
Trombone – Julian Priester, Matthew Gee
Trumpet – Bob Bryant, Clark Terry

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - The Man I Love (1967-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Man I Love 12'18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2     Hush-A-Bye 9'16
Traditional
3     Blues for Harvey 12'29
Johnny Griffin
4     The Masquerade Is Over 12'58
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
5     Sophisticated Lady 5'44
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
6     Wee 2'17
Denzil Best
Credits :
Bass – Nils-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Kenny Drew
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin