The Best of Johnny Griffin

by Johnny Griffin

Overview

Nick Phillips compiled this chronologically arranged nine-track overview of the career of "The Little Giant," Johnny Griffin, as a leader and as a sideman for the Riverside, Jazzland, Prestige, and Galaxy catalogs. The recording dates mainly range from 1958-1962, though the final track, a lovely version of "Autumn Leaves," comes from a 1978 session. There is only one original on the set, the wonderful "63rd Street Theme" from the album The Little Giant, in 1959. Other albums represented here are Way Out!, The Little Giant, Johnny Griffin Sextet, Tough Tenors, and The Tenor Scene with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Thelonious Monk's Thelonious in Action, the great Big Soul Band session from 1960, Wes Montgomery's Full House, and Return of the Griffin from 1978. The highlights of the set include the big band's version of "Wade in the Water," the blazing version of "Cherokee," and the reading of Lester Young's "Tickle Toe." Other highlights -- though non-musical ones -- are the insightful and engaging -- as well as authoritative -- liner notes by author and critic Ashley Khan. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2009
Label:	Concord Jazz / Concord / Riverside Records / Universal Music
UPC:	0888072313323
Rank:	226817

Tracks

1. Cherokee
2. Woody 'N You
3. Rhythm-A-Ning
4. 63rd Street Theme
5. Tickle Toe
6. Wade in the Water
7. Straight, No Chaser
8. Full House
9. Autumn Leaves

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Griffin   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Wes Montgomery   Primary Artist,Guitar
Johnny Griffin Sextet   Primary Artist
Thelonious Monk Quartet   Primary Artist
Roy Haynes   Drums
Jimmy Cobb   Drums
Ray Drummond   Bass
Thelonious Monk   Piano
Ahmed Abdul-Malik   Bass
Albert "Tootie" Heath   Drums
Harold Mabern   Piano
Wynton Kelly   Piano
Paul Chambers   Bass
Blue Mitchell   Trumpet
Edwin Williams   Sax (Tenor)
Charlie Persip   Drums
Julian Priester   Trombone
Philly Joe Jones   Drums
Bob Bryant/Marshall Dodge   Trumpet
Charlie Davis   Sax (Baritone)
Larry "Lonnie" Gales   Bass
Sam "Stovepipe No. 1" Jones   Bass
Matthew Gee   Trombone
Junior Mance   Piano
Wilbur Ware   Bass
Ronnie Mathews   Piano
Bob Cranshaw   Bass
Keith Copeland   Drums
Kenny Drew   Piano
Clark Terry   Trumpet
Ben Riley   Drums
Pat Patrick   Sax (Alto)

Technical Credits

Wes Montgomery   Composer
Nick Phillips   Compilation Producer
Ray Fowler   Engineer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Ashley Kahn   Liner Notes
Eddie Bill Harris   Engineer
Norman Simmons   Arranger
Orrin Keepnews   Original Recording Producer
Jan Persson   Photography
Abbey Anna   Art Direction
Rikka Arnold   Editorial
Andrew Pham   Art Direction
Evelyn Haddad   Project Assistant
Rydt VanGelder   Engineer
Lester Young   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Ray Noble   Composer
Chris Clough   Project Assistant
Jack Higgins   Engineer
Jacques Prevert   Composer
Dizzy Gillespie   Composer
Esmond Edwards   Supervisor
Joe Tarantino   Compilation Mastering
Johnny Griffin   Composer