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John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of his death. A pioneering figure in
hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...
, Griffin recorded prolifically as a bandleader in addition to stints with pianist
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...
, drummer
Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the ...
, in partnership with fellow tenor
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...
and as a member of the
Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...
after he moved to Europe in the 1960s. In 1995, Griffin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from
Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
.


Early life and career

Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto saxophone. While still at high school at the age of 15, Griffin was playing with
T-Bone Walker Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975) was an American blues musician, composer, songwriter and bandleader, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds. In 2018 ''R ...
in a band led by Walker's brother."In Conversation with Johnny Griffin"
by
Ted Panken Ted Panken is an American jazz journalist who has written for ''Down Beat'', ''Jazziz'', and ''Jazz Times''. From 1985 to 2008, he broadcast jazz and creative music on radio station WKCR. He has written more than 500 liner notes and has contribu ...
a
Jazz.com
Alto saxophone was still his instrument of choice when he joined
Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles ...
's big band, three days after his high school graduation, but Hampton encouraged him to take up the tenor, playing alongside
Arnett Cobb Arnett Cleophus Cobb (August 10, 1918 – March 24, 1989)
accessed July 2010.
was an American tenor saxophonist, somet ...
. He first appeared on a Los Angeles recording with Hampton's band in 1945 at the age of 17. By mid-1947, Griffin and fellow Hampton band member Joe Morris, had formed a sextet made up of local musicians, including George Freeman, where he remained for the next two years. His playing can be heard on early rhythm and blues recordings for
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most im ...
. By 1951, Griffin was playing
baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use - the bass, contrab ...
in an R&B septet led by former bandmate
Arnett Cobb Arnett Cleophus Cobb (August 10, 1918 – March 24, 1989)
accessed July 2010.
was an American tenor saxophonist, somet ...
. After returning to Chicago from two years in the Army, Griffin began to establish a reputation as one of the premiere saxophonists in that city.
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...
enthusiastically encouraged
Orrin Keepnews Orrin Keepnews (March 2, 1923 – March 1, 2015) was an American jazz writer and record producer known for founding Riverside Records and Milestone Records, for freelance work, and for his work at other labels. Biography Early life Keepnews ...
of the Riverside label to sign the young tenor, but before he could act
Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...
had signed Griffin. He joined
Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the ...
's Jazz Messengers in 1957, and his recordings from that time include an album joining together the Messengers and Thelonious Monk. Griffin then succeeded
John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...
as a member of Monk's Five Spot quartet; he can be heard on the albums '' Thelonious in Action'' and '' Misterioso.'' Griffin's unique style, based on an astounding technique, included a vast canon of bebop language. He was known to quote generously from classical, opera and other musical forms. A prodigious player, he was often subjected to "cutting sessions" (a musical battle between two musicians) involving a legion of tenor players, both in his hometown Chicago with
Hank Mobley Henry "Hank" Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to de ...
and
Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...
, and on the road. Diminutive, he was distinctive as a fashionable dresser, a good businessman, and a well-liked bandleader to other musicians. Griffin was leader on his first
Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...
album '' Introducing Johnny Griffin'' in 1956. Also featuring Wynton Kelly on piano,
Curly Russell Curly is a surname, given name, nickname or stage name. It may refer to: First name, nickname or stage name * Crazy Horse (1840–1877), Oglala Sioux war chief nicknamed "Curly" * Curly (scout), nickname of Ashishishe (c. 1856–1923), Crow Ind ...
on bass and
Max Roach Maxwell Lemuel Roach (January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007) was an American jazz drummer and composer. A pioneer of bebop, he worked in many other styles of music, and is generally considered one of the most important drummers in history. He work ...
on drums, the recording brought Griffin critical acclaim. The album '' A Blowin' Session'' (1957) featured
John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...
and
Hank Mobley Henry "Hank" Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to de ...
. He played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for a few months in 1957 and in the
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...
Sextet and Quartet (1958). During this period, he recorded a set with
Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...
on '' Serenade to a Bus Seat'', featuring the rhythm trio of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and
Philly Joe Jones Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. Biography Early career As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on ''The Kiddie Show'' on the Philadelphia radio station WIP. He wa ...
.


Move to Europe

Griffin moved to France in 1963 and to the Netherlands in 1978. His relocation was the result of several factors, including income tax problems, a failing marriage and feeling "embittered by the critical acceptance of
free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians duri ...
" in the United States, as journalist
Ben Ratliff Ben Ratliff (born 1968 in New York City) is an American journalist, music critic and author. Ratliff is the son of an English mother and an American father, growing up in London and in Rockland County, New York. From 1996 to 2016, he wrote a ...
wrote. Apart from appearing regularly under his own name at jazz clubs such as London's
Ronnie Scott's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. History The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...
, Griffin became a "first choice" sax player for visiting US musicians touring the continent during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965, he recorded albums with
Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...
. He briefly rejoined Monk's groups (an Octet and Nonet) in 1967. From 1967 to 1969, he was part of the
Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...
. Griffin and Davis met up again in 1970 and recorded ''Tough Tenors Again 'n' Again'', and again with the
Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...
Big 7 at the
Montreux Jazz Festival The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annual ...
. In the late 1970s, Griffin recorded with
Peter Herbolzheimer Peter Alexandru Herbolzheimer (31 December 1935 – 27 March 2010) was a Romanian-German jazz trombonist and bandleader. Biography Herbolzheimer was born to a Romanian mother and a German father in Bucharest, Romania. His family emigrated in 1 ...
and His Big Band, which also included, among others,
Nat Adderley Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley (November 25, 1931 – January 2, 2000) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, whom he supported and played with for many years. Adderley's composition ...
, Derek Watkins,
Art Farmer Arthur Stewart Farmer (August 21, 1928 – October 4, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination especially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, doub ...
,
Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tuba and flugel ...
,
Jiggs Whigham Jiggs Whigham (born Oliver Haydn Whigham III; August 20, 1943) is an American jazz trombonist. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, he began his professional career at the age of 17, joining the Glenn Miller/Ray McKinley orchestra ...
,
Herb Geller Herbert Arnold Geller (November 2, 1928 – December 19, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. Early life His mother, Frances ''(née'' Frances Mildred Fullman, al ...
, Wilton Gaynair,
Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre ...
,
Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...
,
Rita Reys Rita Reys (born Maria Everdina Reijs; 21 December 1924 – 28 July 2013) was a jazz singer from the Netherlands. She was promoted as "Europe's First Lady of Jazz". In the 1980s, Rita returned to the American Songbook, recording albums such as ...
, Jean "Toots" Thielemans,
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (, 27 May 1946 – 19 April 2005), also known by his abbreviated nickname NHØP, was a Danish jazz double bassist. Biography Pedersen was born in Osted, near Roskilde, on the Danish island of Zealand, the son of ...
,
Grady Tate Grady Tate (January 14, 1932 – October 8, 2017) was an American jazz and soul-jazz drummer and baritone vocalist. In addition to his work as sideman, Tate released many albums as leader and lent his voice to songs in the animated ''Schoolhou ...
, and
Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
as arranger. He also recorded with the
Nat Adderley Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley (November 25, 1931 – January 2, 2000) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, whom he supported and played with for many years. Adderley's composition ...
Quintet in 1978, having previously recorded with Adderley in 1958. In 1978, Griffin and Dexter Gordon returned to the U.S., and the two performed at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, before recording ''Live at Carnegie Hall''. Griffin's last concert was in
Hyères Hyères (), Provençal Occitan: ''Ieras'' in classical norm, or ''Iero'' in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The old town lies from the sea clustered arou ...
, France on July 21, 2008. On July 25, 2008, he died of a heart attack at the age of 80 in Mauprévoir, near
Availles-Limouzine Availles-Limouzine (; oc, Avalha Lemosina) is a commune in the west-central department of Vienne, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The river Clouère The Clouère (french: la Clouère, ) is a river that flows through the west-central French departm ...
, France."Le saxophoniste américain Johnny Griffin est mort"
''
Le Nouvel Observateur (), previously known as (1964–2014), is a weekly French news magazine. Based in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, it is the most prominent French general information magazine in terms of audience and circulation. Its current editor is Cécil ...
''. Retrieved October 19, 2013.


Discography


As leader/co-leader

* 1956: '' Johnny Griffin'' (
Argo In Greek mythology the ''Argo'' (; in Greek: ) was a ship built with the help of the gods that Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The ship has gone on to be used as a motif in a variety of ...
, 1958) * 1956: '' Introducing Johnny Griffin'' (
Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical c ...
, 1957) * 1957: '' A Blowin Session'' (Blue Note, 1957) * 1957: '' The Congregation'' (Blue Note, 1958) * 1958: '' Johnny Griffin Sextet'' ( Riverside, 1958) * 1958: ''
Way Out! ''Way Out!'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, released on the Riverside label in 1958. Reception AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow wrote that "the tenor is in superior form for this spirited date." Track listing #"Where's Your Overc ...
'' (Riverside, 1958) * 1959: '' The Little Giant'' (Riverside, 1959) * 1960: ''
The Big Soul-Band ''The Big Soul-Band'' (also released as ''Wade in the Water'') is an album by the Johnny Griffin Orchestra, led by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, featuring arrangements by Norman Simmons (musician), Norman Simmons. It was released on the River ...
'' (Riverside, 1960) * 1960: '' Battle Stations'' with
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...
(
Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...
, 1960) * 1960: '' Johnny Griffin's Studio Jazz Party'' (Riverside, 1960) * 1960: ''
Tough Tenors ''Tough Tenors'' is an album by saxophonists Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded in 1960 and released on the Jazzland label.Jazzland, 1960) * 1960: '' Griff & Lock'' with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Jazzland, 1961) * 1961: ''
The First Set ''The First Set'' is a live album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded at Minton's Playhouse in 1961 and released on the Prestige label.The Tenor Scene ''The Tenor Scene'' (also released as ''The Breakfast Show'') is a live album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded at Minton's Playhouse in 1961 and released on the Prestige label.The Late Show'' with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Prestige, 1965) – live * 1961: ''
The Midnight Show The Midnight Show was a Los Angeles-based sketch comedy group which performed monthly at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Founded in 2008, the show owed its notoriety not only to production of several viral and mature-themed internet videos ...
'' with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Prestige, 1964) – live * 1961: ''
Lookin' at Monk! ''Lookin' at Monk!'' is an album by saxophonists Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis featuring compositions associated with Thelonious Monk recorded in 1961 and released on the Jazzland label.Change of Pace ''Change of Pace'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin which was recorded in 1961 and released on the Riverside label.Blues Up & Down'' with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Jazzland, 1961) * 1961: '' White Gardenia'' (Riverside, 1961) * 1961–62: ''
The Kerry Dancers ''The Kerry Dancers'' (subtitled ''and Other Swinging Folk'') is the album which was recorded by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin during the late 1961 and early 1962 period, and it was subsequently released by the Riverside label.Tough Tenor Favorites ''Tough Tenor Favorites'' is an album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded in 1962 and released on the Jazzland label.
'' with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Jazzland, 1962) * 1962: '' Grab This!'' (Riverside, 1962) * 1963: '' Soul Groove'' with
Matthew Gee Matthew Gee (November 25, 1925 in Houston, Texas – July 18, 1979 in New York City) was an American bebop trombonist and part-time actor. Gee played trumpet and baritone as a child, and took up the trombone at age 11. After studying at Alabama S ...
(
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
, 1964) * 1963: '' Do Nothing 'til You Hear from Me'' (Riverside, 1963) * 1964: ''
Night Lady ''Night Lady'' is an album by saxophonist Johnny Griffin recorded in West Germany in 1963. Originally released on the Philips label, ''Night Lady'' was later released on EmArcy Records.Philips Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters is ...
, 1964) * 1967: ''The Man I Love'' (
Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United State ...
, 1969) * 1967: ''You Leave Me Breathless'' (
Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated w ...
, 1972) * 1967: ''A Night in Tunisia'' (Trio, 1979) * 1968: ''Jazz Undulation'' (Joker, 1977) * 1968: ''Lady Heavy Bottom's Waltz'' (
Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...
, 1969) * 1970: ''
Tough Tenors Again 'n' Again ''Tough Tenors Again 'n' Again'' is an album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded in West Germany in 1970 and released on the MPS label.
'' ( MPS, 1970) * 1973: '' Blues for Harvey'' (
SteepleChase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...
, 1973) – live * 1974: ''Johnny Griffin Live at Music Inn'' ( Horo, 1974) – live * 1975: ''The Jamfs Are Coming!'' (
Timeless Timeless (or atemporal) or timelessness (or atemporality) may refer to: * Agelessness, the condition of being unaffected by the passage of time * Akal (Sikh term), timelessness in Sikhism * Eternity, timeless existence or infinite duration * Im ...
, 1978) – live * 1976: ''Johnny Griffin Live in Tokyo'' (Philips, 1976) – live * 1976: ''The Little Giant Revisited'' (Philips, 1977) – live * 1978: ''Sincerely Ours'' with
Rolf Ericson Rolf Ericson (August 29, 1922 – June 16, 1997) was a Swedish jazz trumpeter. He also played the flugelhorn. Yanow, Scott. Biography ''AllMusic'' Early career Ericson was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He moved to New York City in 1947 and, in 19 ...
(Four Leaf Clover, 1978) * 1978: '' Return of the Griffin'' (
Galaxy A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System ...
, 1979) * 1978: '' Bush Dance'' (Galaxy, 1979) * 1978?: '' Birds and Ballads'' (Galaxy, 1978) * 1979: '' NYC Underground'' (Galaxy, 1981) – live * 1979: ''
To the Ladies ''To the Ladies'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a 1922 Broadway play, ''To the Ladies'', by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. The film was directed b ...
'' (Galaxy, 1982) * 1980: ''Meeting'' (Jeton, 1982) * 1981: ''Live / Autumn Leaves'' ( Verve, 1997) – live * 1983: '' Call It Whachawana'' (Galaxy, 1983) * 1984: ''Tough Tenors Back Again!'' with
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...
( Storyville, 1997) * 1985: ''Three Generations of Tenor Saxophone'' (JHM, 1997) CD* 1987: ''Have You Met Barcelona'' with
Ben Sidran Ben Hirsh Sidran (born August 14, 1943) is an American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, label owner, and music writer. Early in his career he was a member of the Steve Miller Band and is the father of Grammy-nominated musician, composer an ...
et al. (Orange Blue, 1989) * 1988: ''Take My Hand'' (
Who's Who in Jazz Who's Who in Jazz was a record label based in New York City, formed by Lionel Hampton in 1977 or 1978, and distributed by the Gillette Madison Company (GEMCON). It specialized in jazz albums and later CDs and released a half dozen recordings of ...
, 1988) * 1990: ''The Cat'' (
Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Antiliiz'') is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mex ...
, 1991) * 1992: ''Dance of Passion'' (Antilles, 1993) * 1994?: ''Chicago-New york-Paris'' (Verve, 1994) * 1999: ''In and Out'' with Martial Solal ( Dreyfus, 2000) * 2000: ''Johnny Griffin and Steve Grossman Quintet'' with Steve Grossman (Dreyfus, 2001) * 2000: ''Close Your Eyes'' with
Horace Parlan Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an American pianist and composer known for working in the hard bop and post-bop styles of jazz. In addition to his work as a bandleader Parlan was known for his contributions to the Cha ...
(Minor Music, 2000) * 2002: ''Johnny Griffin and the Great Danes'' with the Great Danes (Stunt, 2003)


As sideman

With
Ahmed Abdul-Malik Ahmed Abdul-Malik (born Jonathan Tim, Jr.; January 30, 1927 – October 2, 1993) was an American jazz double bassist and oud player. Abdul-Malik is remembered for integrating Middle Eastern and North African music styles in his jazz music.Kelse ...
* '' Jazz Sahara'' (Riverside, 1958) * '' East Meets West'' (RCA Victor, 1960) With
Nat Adderley Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley (November 25, 1931 – January 2, 2000) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, whom he supported and played with for many years. Adderley's composition ...
* '' Branching Out'' (Riverside, 1958) * ''
A Little New York Midtown Music ''A Little New York Midtown Music'' is an album by jazz cornetist Nat Adderley recorded in 1978 and released on the Galaxy label.Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the ...
* '' Selections from Lerner and Loewe's...'' (Vik, 1957) * ''
A Night in Tunisia "A Night in Tunisia" is a musical composition written by Dizzy Gillespie around 1940–42, while Gillespie was playing with the Benny Carter band. It has become a jazz standard. It is also known as "Interlude", and with lyrics by Raymond Leveen w ...
'' (Vik, 1957) * ''
Cu-Bop ''Cu-Bop'' is an album by drummer Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers with conguero Sabu recorded in 1957 and originally released on the Jubilee label.Jubilee A jubilee is a particular anniversary of an event, usually denoting the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and the 70th anniversary. The term is often now used to denote the celebrations associated with the reign of a monarch after a milestone number of y ...
, 1957) * ''
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk ''Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk'' is a studio album released in 1958 by Atlantic Records. It is a collaboration between the Jazz Messengers, the group led by drummer Art Blakey, and Thelonious Monk on piano. Background T ...
'' (Atlantic, 1957) * ''
Hard Drive A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating platters coated with mag ...
'' (
Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital ...
, 1957) With the
Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band The Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band was a jazz big band co-led by American drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist François "Francy" Boland. They were one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States, featuring top ...
* ''
Sax No End ''Sax No End'' is an album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band with guest soloist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis featuring performances recorded in Germany in 1967 and released on the SABA label. The album was also released in the US on Prestige Rec ...
'' (
SABA Saba may refer to: Places * Saba (island), an island of the Netherlands located in the Caribbean Sea * Şaba (Romanian for Shabo), a town of the Odesa Oblast, Ukraine * Sabá, a municipality in the department of Colón, Honduras * Saba (river), ...
, 1967) * ''
Out of the Folk Bag ''Out of the Folk Bag'' is an album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band featuring performances recorded in Cologne in 1967 for the German Columbia label.17 Men and Their Music ''17 Men and Their Music'' is a live album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band featuring performances recorded in West Germany in 1967 and first released on producer Gigi Campi's own label.All Smiles Kirby James Fairchild is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the indie rock bands Grandaddy and Modest Mouse. Fairchild has released solo material under the pseudonym All Smiles. Biography Bo ...
'' (MPS, 1968) * ''
Faces The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affe ...
'' (MPS, 1969) * '' Latin Kaleidoscope'' (MPS, 1968) * '' Fellini 712'' (MPS, 1969) * ''
All Blues "All Blues" is a jazz composition by Miles Davis first appearing on the influential 1959 album ''Kind of Blue''. It is a twelve-bar blues in ; the chord sequence is that of a basic blues and made up entirely of seventh chords, with a VI in the t ...
'' (MPS, 1969) * '' More Smiles'' (MPS, 1969) * ''
Volcano A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates ...
'' (Polydor, 1969) * ''
Clarke Boland Big Band en Concert avec Europe 1 ''Clarke Boland Big Band en Concert avec Europe 1'' is a live album by the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band featuring a performance recorded in Paris in 1969, originally broadcast on Europe 1 and released on the Tréma (record label), Tréma lab ...
'' (Tréma, 1992) – recorded in 1969 With
Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...
* '' The Giant'' (
America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, 1973) * ''
The Source ''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...
'' (America, 1973) * '' The Dizzy Gillespie Big 7'' (
Pablo Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul. People *Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer *Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer * Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer * Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist * Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer * Pablo Br ...
, 1975) With
Philly Joe Jones Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. Biography Early career As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on ''The Kiddie Show'' on the Philadelphia radio station WIP. He wa ...
* ''
Blues for Dracula ''Blues for Dracula'' is the debut album by American jazz drummer Philly Joe Jones which was recorded in 1958 for the Riverside label. Reception The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow described it as a "worthwhile but not overly essential release".Y ...
'' (Riverside, 1958) * ''
Look Stop Listen ''Look Stop Listen'' (listed on label as ''Look Stop and Listen'') is an album by drummer Philly Joe Jones' Dameronia which was recorded and released on the Uptown label in 1983. Biography Ridley was born and reared in Indianapolis, Indiana. He ...
'' (Uptown, 1983) with Dameronia With
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...
* '' Thelonious in Action'' (Riverside, 1958) – live * '' Misterioso'' (Riverside, 1958) – live With
Bud Powell Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Along with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke and Dizzy Gillespie, Powell was a leading figure in the development of mode ...
* ''
Bud in Paris ''Bud in Paris'' is an album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, originally released on Xanadu Records in 1975, containing non-studio recordings made of Powell in Paris between December 1959 and October 1960. It is not to be confused with the 1964 Re ...
'' (1975, Xanadu) – live recorded in 1960 * ''Earl Bud Powell, Vol. 8: Holidays in Edenville, 64'' (Mythic Sound, 1964) With
A. K. Salim Ahmad Khatab Salim or Ahmad Kharab Salim (born Albert Atkinson on July 28, 1922) was an American jazz composer, and arranger. Biography Salim attended DuSable High School with Bennie Green, Dorothy Donegan and Gene Ammons and played alto saxop ...
* ''
Stable Mates ''Stable Mates'' is a split album by A. K. Salim and Yusef Lateef recorded in 1957 for the Savoy label.Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Sa ...
, 1957) * ''
Pretty for the People ''Pretty for the People'' is an album by American jazz composer and arranger A. K. Salim featuring Kenny Dorham and Johnny Griffin recorded in 1957 for the Savoy label.Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...
, '' Chet Baker in New York'' (Riverside, 1958) *
Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
, ''
Count Basie Jam Session at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975 ''Count Basie Jam Session at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975'', also referred to as ''Basie Jam'', is a live album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie recorded in 1976 and released by the Pablo label.James Carter, ''
Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge ''Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge'' is a live album by saxophonist James Carter with guests David Murray, Johnny Griffin and Franz Jackson recorded at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in 2001, and released on the Warner Bros. label in 2004. Reception ...
'' (Warner Bros., 2004) – recorded in 2001 * Tadd Dameron, '' The Magic Touch'' (Riverside, 1962) *
Bennie Green Bennie Green (April 16, 1923 – March 23, 1977) was an American jazz trombonist. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Green worked in the orchestras of Earl Hines and Charlie Ventura, and recorded as bandleader through the 1950s and ...
, ''
Glidin' Along ''Glidin' Along'' is an album by American trombonist Bennie Green recorded in 1961 and released on the Jazzland label.
'' (Jazzland, 1961) *
Johnny Lytle Johnny Dillard Lytle (October 13, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio – December 15, 1995 in Springfield) was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist. Life and career Lytle grew up in Springfield, Ohio in a family of musicians, the son of a trumpeter father ...
, '' Nice and Easy'' (Jazzland, 1962) *
Blue Mitchell Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell (March 13, 1930 – May 21, 1979) was an American trumpeter and composer who worked in jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock and funk. He recorded albums as leader and sideman for Riverside, Mainstream Records, and ...
, '' Big 6'' (Riverside 1958) *
Ira Sullivan Ira Sullivan (May 1, 1931 – September 21, 2020) was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, flautist, saxophonist, and composer born in Washington, D.C., United States. An active musician since the 1950s, he often worked with Red Rodn ...
, ''
Blue Stroll ''Blue Stroll'' is an album by American jazz multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, which was recorded in 1959 and released on Delmark. He leads a quintet with saxophonist Johnny Griffin, pianist Jodie Christian, bassist Victor Sproles and drummer W ...
'' (Delmark, 1961) *
Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...
, '' Serenade to a Bus Seat'' (Riverside, 1957) * Wilbur Ware, ''
The Chicago Sound ''The Chicago Sound'' is the sole album led by American jazz bassist Wilbur Ware. It features a quintet with the saxophonist Johnny Griffin and was recorded in 1957 for the Riverside label.Randy Weston, '' Little Niles'' (
United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...
, 1958) *
Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...
, ''
Full House ''Full House'' is an American television Situation comedy, sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The show is about widowed father Danny Tanner who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and childhood best ...
'' (Riverside, 1962)


References


Bibliography

*
Mike Hennessey Mike Hennessey (25 February 1928 – 16 August 2017) was an English music journalist and jazz pianist. Born in London as the third of four children, Hennessey, who came from a musical family, began learning piano at the age of six. After his mili ...
''The Little Giant: The Story of Johnny Griffin''. London:
Northway Publications Northway Books ( Northway Publications) is a publishing company based in London, UK. Northway specialises in biographies of musicians, and British social and cultural history. Its focus has been particularly on documenting jazz history in Britain ...
, 2008.


External links


Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Johnny 1928 births 2008 deaths 20th-century African-American musicians 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century saxophonists African-American saxophonists American expatriates in France American jazz tenor saxophonists American male jazz musicians American male saxophonists Antilles Records artists Bebop saxophonists Black Lion Records artists Blue Note Records artists Galaxy Records artists Hard bop saxophonists Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band members Post-bop saxophonists Prestige Records artists Riverside Records artists SteepleChase Records artists Storyville Records artists The Jazz Messengers members