Tag Archives: Johnny Griffin

Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Johnny Griffin: Battle Stations

In November 1960, “Prestige” label released “Battle Stations”, album by Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Johnny Griffin (22nd Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis” album overall). It was recorded in September 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – tenor saxophone
  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Norman Simmons – piano
  • Victor Sproles – bass
  • Ben Riley – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. What’s Happening – Fletcher Henderson
  2. Abundance – Norman Simmons
  3. If I Had You – Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Ted Shapiro
  4. 63rd Street Theme – Johnny Griffin
  5. Pull My Coat – Richard Evans
  6. Hey Jim! – Babs Gonzales, James Moody

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messenger: A Night In Tunisia

In February 1958, “RCA Victor” label released “A Night in Tunisia”, album by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers. It was recorded in April 1957, in New York City, and was produced by Bob Rolontz.

Personnel:

  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Jackie McLean (listed as Ferris Benda/Ferris Bender on the cover) – alto sax
  • Johnny Griffin – tenor sax
  • Bill Hardman – trumpet
  • Sam Dockery – piano
  • Spanky DeBrest – bass

Track listing:

  1. A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
  2. Off the Wall – Johnny Griffin
  3. Theory of Art – Bill Hardman
  4. Couldn’t It Be You? – Art Blakey, Jackie McLean
  5. Evans – Sonny Rollins

Roy Haynes

On November 12, 2024 Roy Owen Haynes died aged 99. He was musician (drums), regarded as one of best and most influential drummers in the history of jazz music. In his career lasting over 80 years he recorded and performed with the best known and most important jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, Lester Young, Kai Winding, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Wardell Gray, Sarah Vaughan, Cal Tjader, Eddie Shu, Nat Adderley, Milt Jackson, Red Rodney, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Art Farmer, Art Blakey, Dorothy Ashby, John Handy,  George Shearing, Randy Weston, Kenny Burrell,  Phineas Newborn, Jr,  Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Eric Dolphy, Etta Jones, Booker Little, Betty Roché, Tommy Flanagan,  Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Stitt,  Kai Winding, J. J. Johnson, Lem Winchester, Steve Lacy, Ray Charles, Jaki Byard, Ted Curson,  Bob Brookmeyer, Jackie Paris, Roland Kirk, Willis Jackson, McCoy Tyner, Ted Curson, John Coltrane, Frank Wess, Andrew Hill, Jackie McLean, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Burton, Archie Shepp, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Leon Thomas, Clifford Jordan, Pharoah Sanders, Gato Barbieri, Dave Brubeck, Duke Jordan, Warne Marsh, Mary Lou Williams, Nick Brignola, Dizzy Reece, Johnny Griffin, Alice Coltrane,  Art Pepper,  Sal Nistico, Red Garland, Hank Jones, Stanley Cowell, Joe Albany, Freddie Hubbard, Toshiyuki Honda, Michel Petrucciani,  Mark Isaacs, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny and Kenny Barron.  Roy Haynes received big number of awards including “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” by the “National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences”, and the award at the “Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception” of the “54th Annual Grammy Awards”. In 2019, Haynes was given the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the “Jazz Foundation of America”. As leader and co-leader, Roy Haynes released 32 albums.

Wes Montgomery: Full House

In November 1962, “Riverside” label released “Full House”, the sixth Wes Montgomery album. It was recorded in June 1962, at Tsubo, Berkeley, California, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Wes Montgomery – guitar
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Johnny Griffin – tenor sax
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Jimmy Cobb – drums
  • Wally Heider – engineer
  • Ken Deardoff – design
  • Jim Marshall – photography
  • Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Full House – Wes Montgomery
  2. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  3. Blue ‘n’ Boogie – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
  4. Cariba – Wes Montgomery
  5. Come Rain or Come Shine – Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen
  6. S.O.S. – Wes Montgomery

Johnny Griffin: Way Out!

In November 1958, “Riverside” label released “Way Out!”, the sixth Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in February 1958, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Where’s Your Overcoat, Boy? – Richard Evans
  2. Hot Sausage – Jody Christian
  3. Sunny Monday – John Hines
  4. Cherokee – Ray Noble
  5. Teri’s Tune – Teri Thornton
  6. Little John – John Hines

Johnny Griffin Orchestra: The Big-Soul Band

In September 1960, “Riverside” label released “The Big Soul-Band”, the debut Johnny Griffin Orchestra album (the eight Johnny Griffin album overall). It was recorded May – June 1960, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Pat Patrick – alto sax
  • Frank Strozier – alto sax
  • Edwin Williams – tenor sax
  • Charles Davis – baritone sax
  • Clark Terry, Bob Bryant – trumpet
  • Julian Priester, Matthew Gee – trombone
  • Harold Mabern – piano
  • Bobby Timmons – piano, celeste
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Victor Sproles – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • Norman Simmons – arrangements
  • Ray Fowler – engineer
  • Jack Matthews – mastering
  • Ken Deardoff – design
  • Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Wade in the Water – traditional
  2. Panic Room Blues – Norman Simmons
  3. Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – traditional
  4. Meditation – Norman Simmons
  5. Holla – Norman Simmons
  6. So Tired – Bobby Timmons
  7. Deep River – traditional
  8. Jubilation – Junior Mance

Johnny Griffin: Johnny Griffin Vol. 2

In September 1957, “Blue Note” label released “Johnny Griffin Vol. 2” (also known as “A Blowin’ Session”), the third Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in April 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin — tenor saxophone
  • John Coltrane — tenor saxophone
  • Hank Mobley — tenor saxophone
  • Lee Morgan — trumpet
  • Wynton Kelly — piano
  • Paul Chambers — bass
  • Art Blakey — drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Harold Feinstein – photography
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Way You Look Tonight – Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
  2. Ball Bearing – Johnny Griffin
  3. All the Things You Are – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
  4. Smoke Stack – Johnny Griffin

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers: Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk

In May 1958, “Atlantic” label released “Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk”, the eight Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers album. It was recorded in May 1957, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegün.

Personnel:

  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Thelonious Monk – piano
  • Bill Hardman – trumpet
  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Spanky DeBrest – bass
  • Earl Brown – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Thelonious Monk, except where noted.

  1. Evidence
  2. In Walked Bud
  3. Blue Monk
  4. I Mean You – Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins
  5. Rhythm-A-Ning
  6. Purple Shades – Johnny Griffin

Johnny Griffin: Introducing Johnny Griffin

In February 1957, “Blue Note” label released “Introducing Johnny Griffin”, the debut Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in April 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor sax
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Curly Russell – bass
  • Max Roach – drums

Track listing:

  1. Mil Dew – Johnny Griffin
  2. Chicago Calling – Johnny Griffin
  3. These Foolish Things – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, John Strachey
  4. The Boy Next Door – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
  5. Nice and Easy – Johnny Griffin
  6. It’s All Right with Me – Cole Porter
  7. Lover Man – Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman

The Undisputed Truth: Face to Face With the Truth

In January 1972, “Gordy” label released “Face to Face with the Truth”, the second Undisputed Truth (The) album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocals
  • Billie Rae Calvin – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Dennis Coffey – lead guitar
  • Melvin Ragin, Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • Johnny Griffin – organ
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Richard Allen, Andrew Smith – drums
  • Eddie Brown – bongos, congas
  • Jack Ashford – tambourine, maracas, percussion
  • Jack Brokensha – timpani, vibraphone, bells
  • Norman Whitfield – engineer, mastering, art concept

Track listing:

  1. You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
  2. What It Is
  3. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World) / Friendship Train
  4. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
  5. Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me
  6. Don’t Let Him take Your Love from Me
  7. What’s Going On