Sunday, May 20, 2007

Yahoo LAUNCHCAST Song Of The Day


Artist:Johnny Griffin

Song:All The Things You Are

Album:A Blowin' Session





Johnny Griffin is another great tenor sax player. He's made great music since the 50s. He was born Apr. 28, 1928 in Chicago. The turning point for Griffin was when he moved to New York in 1956 and signed with Blue Note. A Blowin' Session was released in 1957 and is the only time Griffin played with John Coltrane. Coltrane wasn't scheduled to be on this session but Griffin ran into him on the way to the studio and asked him to join in. Good idea. Other musicians include Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Blakey on drums. Griffin was a member of the Jazz Messengers at the time. The result is an essential album for jazz fans. Griffin went on to play with Thelonious Monk in 1958 and formed the Tough Tenors band with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis in 1960. He moved to Paris in 1963 and was a featured soloist with the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band. He moved to The Netherlands in 1973 and continues to tour today though he hasn't recorded in a few years. The Rev is one of the all time greats of jazz and it's great to see him still playing at the age of 79. Here's Johnny Griffin & drummer Art Taylor performing Blue Monk in France.

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