Recorded in Koln, Germany in 1986. Woody Shaw on trumpet, Johnny Griffin on Tenor, John Hicks on Piano, Reggie Johnson on the bass and Alvin Queen on drums. Griffin – “The Little Giant” – absolutely tears it up, showing that he hadn’t lost a step since his early days and Shaw is cookin’ right along side him!
Clark Terry recorded “Serenade To A Bus Seat” in 1957 when he was still better known as a trumpet player then the master of the flugelhorn that he would become in the coming decades. Terry wrote five of the eight tracks on the album including the title track – a tribute to Terry’s life on the road playing with Duke Ellington. Of particular note is the playing between Terry and the tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, especially on the Terry composed tracks Boomerang and Cruising.
Released 1957 : Riverside Records : Catalog # RLP 12-237
Players:
Clark Terry – Trumpet
Johnny Griffin – Tenor Sax
Wynton Kelly – Piano
Paul Chambers – Bass
Philly Joe Jones – Drums
Johnny Griffin – Johnny G.G.
Johnny Griffin – Catharsis
From “Johnny Griffin Sextet“: 1958 : Riverside RLP 12-274
More great Hard Bop, this album was actually Tenor Sax player Johnny Griffin’s debut on the Riverside Records label. Joined by some great talent, including Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams (who would soon have their own fruitful partnership), Griffin tackles some obscure compositions as well as one of his original tunes (Catharsis).
Players:
Johnny Griffin – Tenor Sax
Pepper Adams – Baritone Sax
Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Kenny Drew – Piano
Wilbur Ware – Bass
Philly Joe Jones – Drums
Blue Mitchell – “Blues March”
Blue Mitchell – “Sir John”
From “Big 6” : 1958 : Riverside Records
This was trumpeter Blue Mitchell’s debut recording in 1958 for Riverside Records. Mitchell put together an all-star sextet of young playes each of whom are now jazz legends. “Big 6″ featured the debut recording of Benny Golson’s Blues March as well as two Mitchell originals including Sir John.
Players:
Blue Mitchell – Trumpet
Johnny Griffin – Tenor Sax
Curtis Fuller – Trombone
Wynton Kelly – Piano
Wilbur Ware – Bass
Philly Joe Jones – Drums
