A Blowin' Session is one of the greatest hard bop jam sessions ever recorded; it is filled with infectious passion and camaraderie. It's also the only time tenor saxophonists Johnny Griffin and John Coltrane would play together on record. Initially Coltrane wasn't scheduled to be on this date, but Griffin saw him on his way to Rudy Van Gelder's studio and asked him to join the remaining musicians, third tenor Hank Mobley, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist {$Paul...   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

This duo (tenor saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin) made about a dozen LPs together, most for Jazzland and Prestige, and they are all worth investigating. They had a special affinity for pianist Thelonious Monk's music, and while there were other sets which emphasize that better, the Monk pieces ("Straight No Chaser"/"In Walked Bud") included in the program on this live set were among the highlights. ~ Bob Rusch, Cadence, All Music Guide

CD $11.38

Johnny Griffin & Steve Grossman Quintet is a co-led, jamming collection of nine songs that projects the legendary hard bop style of tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin and the ability of Steve Grossman to fuse his brand of tenor and soprano saxophone excellence, forming a cohesive, impressive set. While each player has developed a reputation for his "blowing sessions," this self-titled CD retains its complementary nature in much the same manner as those that featured Griffin with Hank Mobley o...   [ read more ]

CD $16.13