- Cherokee
- Woody 'n You
- Rhythm-a-ning
- 63rd Street Theme
- Tickle Toe
- Wade in the Water
- Straight, No Chaser
- Full House
- Autumn Leaves
Johnny Griffin - Tenor sax
Kenny Drew - Piano (tracks 1, 2)
Wilbur Ware - Bass (tracks 1, 2)
Philly Joe Jones - Drums (tracks 1, 2)
Thelonious Monk - Piano (track 3)
Ahmed Abdul-Malik - Bass (track 3)
Roy Haynes - Drums (track 3)
Blue Mitchell - Trumpet (track 4)
Julian Priester - Trombone (tracks 4, 6)
Wynton Kelly - Piano (tracks 4, 8)
Sam Jones - Bass (track 4)
Albert "Tootie" Heath - Drums (track 4)
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor sax (tracks 5, 7)
Junior Mance - Piano (tracks 5, 7)
Larry Gales - Bass (tracks 5, 7)
Ben Riley - Drums (tracks 5, 7)
Clark Terry, Bob Bryant - Trumpets (track 6)
Matthew Gee - Trombone (track 6)
Pat Patrick - Alto sax (track 6)
Edwin Williams - Tenor sax (track 6)
Charlie Davis - Baritone sax (track 6)
Harold Mabern - Piano (track 6)
Bob Cranshaw - Bass (track 6)
Charlie Persip - Drums (track 6)
Wes Montgomery - Guitar (track 8)
Paul Chambers - Bass (track 8)
Jimmy Cobb - Drums (track 8)
Ronnie Mathews - Piano (track 9)
Ray Drummond - Bass (track 9)
Keith Copeland - Drums (track 9)
In my
previous Johnny Griffin review, I noted this remarkable tenor-saxist's
sad death in July 2008. So he deserves a "Best of" collection
to remind us of his finest moments. Despite its title, this is hardly
a selection of the best recordings from his playing career of more
than 60 years. It is limited to sessions recorded between 1958 and
1962, with one final track from 1978. However, within its limitations,
it captures much of Griffin's appeal and his versatility.
His nickname "The Fastest Gun in the West" arose from his
ability to play streams of notes at very fast tempos and, indeed,
this is represented by the opening Cherokee, where Johnny exhibits
his facility while still conveying the structure of the tune. Drummer
Philly Joe Jones contributes an equally stirring solo. Woody 'n
You has the same personnel but it starts with Griffin duetting
with Philly Joe's drums in almost free-form mode.
Rhythm-a-ning is the first of two Thelonious Monk compositions
on the album, reminding us of Griffin's closeness with Monk. This
track was recorded in 1958 at the Five Spot in New York, when Griff
was with Monk's quartet. You can hear Thelonious urging Griffin on
to play more and more choruses, before taking his own wayward piano
solo. The tempo slows for 63rd Street Theme, recorded by Griffin's
sextet after he left Monk. It is an easy-going blues, with solos in
succession from Blue Mitchell, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Julian
Priester and Sam Jones.
The speed picks up again for the old Count Basie standard Tickle
Toe (written by the very different tenor-saxist Lester Young).
This is one of the tenor duels that Griffin recorded with Eddie "Lockjaw"
Davis. Davis solos with his trademark growl; Junior Mance supplies
a neat piano solo; and then the two tenors are contrasted as they
swap decreasing numbers of bars. This is an invigorating performance,
with both tenorists clearly enjoying one another's company.
I wish I could be as complimentary about Wade in the Water
but it backs Griffin with a big band and he is mainly restricted to
playing short, punctuating phrases in Norman Simmons' overpoweringly
ponderous arrangement. Admittedly the tune was a hit for Ramsey Lewis
a few years later, but this version definitely doesn't deserve inclusion
in a "Best of" selection.
Straight, No Chaser returns us to the more worthwhile pairing
of Griffin and Lockjaw Davis - recorded in 1961, two years before
Johnny moved to Europe. Full House was written by guitarist
Wes Montgomery, who is featured alongside Griffin and a famous Miles
Davis rhythm section (Kelly, Chambers & Cobb). This is an attractive
jazz waltz on which Griffin proves that he can play gracefully. The
album ends with Autumn Leaves, recorded in 1978 on one of Johnny's
rare returns to the USA. Griff's tone seems to have filled out and
matured but he could still play at an incredible pace.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Riverside 0888072313323
