Johnny Griffin & Richie Cole From Village Vanguard

Actors: Johnny Griffin Quartet, Richie Cole Group


This 1981 New York City Village Vanguard concert includes 3 tracks by the Johnny Griffin Quartet and 5 selections from the Richie Cole Group. Griffin's sidemen include Ronnie Matthews, Ray Drummond, and Kenny Washington. Cole's sidemen include Bruce Forman, Bobby Enriquez, Marshall Hawkins, and Scott Morris.

Saxophonist Johnny Griffin–aided by pianist Ronnie Matthews, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Kenny Washington–runs through a strong, classy set at the New York's Village Vanguard in 1981. Following Griffin is an equally strong set from fellow sax man Richie Cole and his band.



Tracklisting:

JOHNNY GRIFFIN QUARTET
Johnny Griffin (ts), Ronnie Matthews (p), Ray Drummond (b), Kenny Washington (dr)

1. Opening & Blues For Gonzi
2. A Monk’s Dream
3. 56 & Closing

RICHIE COLE GROUP
Richie Cole (ts), Bruce Forman (g), Bobby Enriquez (p), Marshall Hawkins (b), Scott Morris (dr)

4. Opening & Hi Fly
5. I Can’t Get Started
6. Punishment Blues
7. Yard Bird Suite
8. Red Top

Johnny Griffin was born in Chicago April 24, 1928. He played clarinet and alto saxophone but changed to tenor when he got his first professional job with Lionel Hampton when he was 17 years old. He later played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and replaced John Coltrane in 1958 in Thelonious Monk’s Quartet. From 1960 - 1962 he co-lead the famous and much recorded “Tough Tenors” quintet with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. In 1963 he moved to Europe where he has been living ever since. He is now living in France - south of Paris. He still goes to USA once a year and plays at all the famous clubs. On this video he plays three of his own compositions. The first one called “Blues for Gonzo” is dedicated to his very good friend, the singer Babs Gonzalez the composer of “Oop-Pop-A-Da”. The next title “A Monk’s Dream” is Griffin’s tribute to Thelonious Monk. You will always hear a few compositions by Monk whenever you hear Johnny Griffin in person. The last number he calls “56” which is the number of bars in the composition. The tune is based on - as Johnny Griffin says “almost” - “The Masquerade Is Over”.

Alto saxophonist Richie Cole was born in 1928. After playing in Buddy Rich’s big band and with Lionel Hampton, he formed his own group,Alto Madness, in 1972. In the period 1974 - 1979 he also worked with the great bop singer Eddie Jefferson. Cole’s video opens with Randy Weston’s classic,“Hi Fly”, followed by the beautiful standard,“I Can’t Get Started”. After Cole’s own heart-rending “Punishment Blues” comes an inevitable Charlie Parker tribute - “Yard Bird Suite”. The set is rounded out with Cole’s bop interpretation of Count Basie’s,“Red Top”
Layout: Chrisna Morten. (Fresh sound records)

More info:
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=26075