Introducing Johnny Griffin [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Johnny Griffin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000MG2LR2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,003 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No description available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Rating:
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windy City Whirlwind, July 18, 2008

By 

Jack Baker "Beauty Will Save the World" (LeRoy,IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Johnny Griffin (Audio CD)

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!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bonus cut of CHEROKEE alone, is worth the purchase of this CD, January 10, 2008

By 

Tony NYC "Tony NYC" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introducing Johnny Griffin (Audio 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.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Listening, February 12, 2007

By 

Paul F. Henegan "leonAzul" (Miami) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Johnny Griffin (Audio CD)

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