Jazz Compilation 3: In Memory of Johnny Griffin

As noted in the last post, Johnny Griffin recently left us. The Times obit informs us that he was swinging to the end: he played his last concert just a week ago.

In 1957 he recorded a pair of great albums for Blue Note Records: A Blowin Session, and The Congregation. Both are straight-ahead hard bop, and I recommend both highly. The former featured a front line of three tenor saxes and trumpet: Griffin, Coltrane, Hank Mobley, and Lee Morgan.  Oh, and by the way, the rhythm section was composed of Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Art Blakey behind the kit.  Not bad. The second album was a quartet date with Sonny Clark (piano), along with Chambers and Kenny Dennis (drums).

A couple of nominations from these relaxed, free-swinging sessions:

• The Way You Look Tonight (1957): This track kicks off A Blowin’ Session, and it immediately warrants the album’s title. Griffin, Trane, and Morgan thrive with the fast tempo. Poor Hank Mobley—whose lovely, bluesy tone I could listen to all day—seems out of his element and bows out after a single chorus of soloing.
• It’s You Or No One (1957): From The Congregation. Griffin again chooses a relatively fast tempo for this number, but his solo is relaxed and inventive, as is Sonny Clark’s. A highlight here is Chambers’s bowed bass solo.

So listen to some Johnny Griffin this week; his music offers warm, happy consolation.