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This obit by Howard Reich appeared in the Sunday Trib Johnny Griffin 1928 ~ 2008 Made-in-Chicago 'tough tenor' 'Little Giant,' who came of age when jazz clubs crowded the South Side, consistently startled listeners with his outsized sound and brilliant technique By Howard Reich | Chicago Tribune critic July 27, 2008 Chicago has produced more than its share of colossal tenor saxophonists, from past icons such as Eddie Harris and Gene Ammons to current masters such as Von Freeman and Fred Anderson. Among them, Johnny Griffin stood out for the brilliance of his technique, the enormous scale of his sound and the explosive energy of his improvisations. Mr. Griffin, 80, who for many listeners epitomized Chicago's larger-than-life "tough tenor" sound, died Friday, July 25, near Poitiers, France, where he lived with his wife, Miriam, said his sister, Lita McClinton. He had suffered a stroke a few years ago, but continued to play and was scheduled to perform in Europe this weekend. Though somewhat overlooked in the United States since he moved to Europe in 1963, Mr. Griffin began to play regularly again in Chicago, New York and other American jazz centers in the late 1970s, consistently startling listeners with the prowess of his work. "He always sounded great—he had it from Day One," said Freeman, who knew Mr. Griffin since grade school on Chicago's South Side. "He was one of those little geniuses you meet," said Freeman, referring to Mr. Griffin's slight physical stature, which early on earned him the nickname "Little Giant." Composer David Baker, who heads the jazz department at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, said: "I've listened to [John] Coltrane and everyone who came along, and I'm not certain there's ever been anybody with greater technical facility. Along with some others, he very much summed up Chicago tenor." For good reason. Mr. Griffin came of age when jazz clubs crowded the South Side and a generation of made-in-Chicago jazz musicians were trained by the feared-and-revered Capt. Walter Dyett at DuSable High School. Dyett turned out such future stars as Freeman, Ammons, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Johnny Hartman, Dorothy Donegan and Eddie Harris, but Mr. Griffin made his splash early. Bandleader Lionel Hampton heard him play at a DuSable assembly and was smitten. "Hamp actually heard Johnny playing alto saxophone, but he loved what he heard—I was there that day," recalled jazz guitarist George Freeman, Von's brother. "So Johnny went out on the road with Hamp, playing tenor." Mr. Griffin created a sensation playing solos opposite tenorist Arnett Cobb on "Flying Home," which had been a breakthrough hit for Illinois Jacquet. But Mr. Griffin tired of the familiar swing-band repertoire. By the late 1940s, he began to lean toward the new sound in jazz: Bebop, its fast-flying chord changes and phenomenal technical demands uniquely suited his gifts as instrumentalist and improviser. Post-Hampton stints with Joe Morris' band in the late 1940s, and Art Blakey and Thelonious Monk in the mid-'50s, burnished Mr. Griffin's credentials as one of the most accomplished tenor players in the kingdom of bop. Anyone who doubted his outsized sound and instrumental skill needed only to listen to his 1957 Blue Note album, "A Blowing Session," in which Mr. Griffin went up against saxophonists Coltrane and Hank Mobley. "Coltrane already was thought of as an important figure at that time," said Chicago saxophonist Frank Catalano. "But when you compare Griffin and Coltrane on that recording, Griffin had way more stuff going on. I believe Coltrane learned from Johnny Griffin, I believe Michael Brecker learned from Johnny Griffin." Mr. Griffin's "tough tenor" collaboration with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis in performance and on record in the early 1960s brought acclaim to both men. As the decades unfolded and trends in jazz came and went, Mr. Griffin clung to the bebop vernacular. "Maybe I'm historic," Mr. Griffin said in a 1990 Tribune interview, "but living in France, I learned long ago that folks in America are often obsessed with everything new, young, different. "Well, some of the old sounds have something to say too." Mr. Griffin proved the point on the CD "Chicago, New York, Paris" (Verve, 1995), which breathed the fire of old. He returned to Chicago in 2005, playing at the pinnacle of his form alongside several other Chicago tenor men at a Chicago Jazz Ensemble concert at the Art Institute of Chicago. But he also reaffirmed his ability to play a ballad, showing extraordinary tenderness in "When We Were One." Other survivors include three daughters, Cynthia, Ingrid Morgan and JoOna Danois; a son, John Arnold Griffin IV; and several grandchildren. A Chicago tribute to Mr. Griffin is being planned. hreich@tribune.com

Right. I ws actually just listening to the CD release that's celebrated tonite (AEOC with Fred Anderson live in seattle) and diggin Moye when I red this thread.

No love for Don Moye?

Good to see you here, Jon. No, I don't think you are right about Damen=Gibson (Gibson should feel relieved). I think Damen is just a pretentious, arrogant little troll with an infatuation for you-know-who. He sure comes off as a shill for the J@LC crowd, but Gibson did not leave under the best of circumstances, so I don't think he would be fawning in the manner of Damen. Also, I think Gibson is more mature, he would not resort to the childish arguments and conjectures that are Damen's stock in trade. Damen is a mean-spirited, shallow troll who pops up to annoy rather than to contribute. I hope you will join us over here--we argue, differ widely, &c. but I think we are a rather nice bunch of posters and the board is owned and operated by great guys who make fine music when not having to put up with us. Hi Chris! As far as I am concerned, you can have him. it would be appreciated if you take his groupies too, especially Olewnik.

You guys might be interested in this video promoting

The dates for the delmark recording have now been changed to Tue & We 12 & 13.

Here is a suggestion for a perfect tuesday evening in chicago. Start with Jazz on the terrace at the museum of contemporary art. It does not get any family friendlier than tah and the schedule is quite hip imho, Have a few drinks at close by andy's and then head down to the new apartment lounge for von Freeman's set at 10.00. empty bottle and Hotti biscotti have Tuesday night sessions usually check the reader http://www.chicagoreader.com/listings/static/jazz.html Tuesdays on the Terrace Tuesdays, June 7-September 27, 5:30 - 8 pm Every Tuesday evening, from June 7 through September 27, visitors are invited to the MCA free of charge for Tuesdays on the Terrace, where they can enjoy live jazz music and outdoor dining catered by Wolfgang Puck on the MCA’s Anne and John Kern Terrace from 5:30 to 8 pm. Tuesdays on the Terrace will feature some of Chicago’s finest jazz musicians from the rosters of the most acclaimed Chicago-based jazz record labels. This summer, Puck's will offer picnic baskets and blankets to those who prefer to relax on the sculpture garden lawn. In case of rain, the event takes place in Puck's. This year special guest hosts join the performers, including Al Carter Bey, Jazz Rapp, Inc.; Marsha Noble, the The Jazz Pacemaker, JAZNU Show on WSSD 88.1FM; WDCB 90.9FM, Public Radio from College of DuPage; and Joe Germuska, WNUR 89.3 FM Chicago’s Sound Experiment. July 5: Corey Wilkes Trio (host: WDCB) July 12: Keefe Jackson Trio (host: Marsha Noble) July 19: Fred Lonberg-Holm Valentine Trio (host: WDCB) July 26: Dave Rempis Trio (host: Joe Germuska) August 2: Keefe Jackson Trio (host: Marsha Noble) August 9: Corey Wilkes Trio (host: WDCB) August 16: Fred Lonberg-Holm Valentine Trio(host: WDCB) August 23: Fred Anderson Trio (host: Al Carter Bey) August 30: Dave Rempis Trio (host: Joe Germuska) September 6: Jeff Parker Trio (host: WDCB) September 13: Fred Anderson Trio (host: Al Carter Bey) September 20: Nate Lepine Trio (host: Al Carter Bey) September 27: Crosswind (host: Marsha Noble)

Hey sonic, next time you call somebody a namecaller, you may want be all encompassing. It's a bit childish, but between your admired shitalking record peddler and myself, it was not me.

Heard them last nite, Larry. The lineup was a bit different (this is probably the lineup over two days, so from the more prominent players you may hear Ari and Dawkins who were not there last nite). Others are not listed (e.g. Bill Perry)They actually had 3 drummers Mosely, Ra and Vincent Davis which had me fear for it being a bit "messy" as well. However it turned out to be quite different. Mwata Bowden kinda conducted the group and they sounded quite "organized". I've gotta get out of this bbs. Too much for me to talk on more than one. Missed the hot house show last Sunday.

I can confirm this because I was "the audience" when I heard John Hicks there sometimes in the 80ies.

Larry, I am not gonna drag this out. Usually, I just enjoy reading this site including your posts and abstain from comments . I get in trouble at jazzcorner. Unfortunately the North/Southside devide still very much exists, I just can't see it as a quality devide. imho, Greg Ward is developping a nice big sound on the alto. A quality I am sometimes missing among others of his generation. If you get a chance, go and hear him in a trio lead by Isiah Spencer with Karl Siegfried on bass. Thant's a very nice goup imho. An aspect I specifically lke about Boykin is that he is developiing "his own thing". I also like his compostions a lot. I only heard Shelton in probably not ideal situations (sitting in with other' groups) I have the cortez record somewhere and I am gonna listen to it a bit more carefully the next time. Some of your obeservations (cats seemingly playing at the top of excitement when it's really not) i see that a bit "all around". Comparing all those young guys to their peers in the 50ies is gotta fail. Too much of the environment ain't what it usedta be.

I think Larry is a bit missing out on certain things. I don't agree with his take on David Boykin. I am not sure what else he could do to challenge himself. His group Expanse has some of the brightest young players (Josh Abrams, Mike Reed, Jim Baker and Nicole Mitchell) and he is playing in other groups too. Have you heard his trio with Reed and Karl Siegfried? Same for Nikki Mitchell. Have you heard the Nicole Mitchell/Ed Wilkerson/Harrison Bankhead /Avereeayl Ra 4tet? Also young cats like Isiah Spencer, Greg Ward, Aaron Getsug and more are imho certainly on the level with their terrific counterparts from the North side. And in the same breath as Matana Roberts, one could certainly mention Maurice Brown who comes out of the same scene and is no longer a Cicagoan as well. Finally, I think Corey Wlkes deserves a little break. The cat is not even 25 years old. What's wrong with a little showboating?

I've gone to jazz clubs for quite a while and have seen some bad times before. But last week I worked at the bar for a gig where nobody showed up. Not one poor soul. And that on a Friday nite.

Hey, here we come!

Sorry ladies & gentleman and thanks for your liberal stance on these kinda questions. Love you all too but I am a JC junky and haven't been able to get to it for several hours. Is it me or is it down?

I just noticed the romantic thing to do on Valentine's day. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis are playing for Valentine's Day Dance Party at the South Shore Cultural Center. If not here is another link: http://www.restructures.net/chicago/music.htm

3030 is an ex church. Nice place, no booze but you can byo. Guess seats about 60-80. For more check out chicago now & then thru the old link http://tisue.net/chicagonow/ You have on your left also links to various venues. seems to be a busy week. Maybe Vandermark with Scandinavian guests on We or the Hothouse on We mite interest you. On Thursday thru December a trio with Hannah Jon Taylor(saxes, flute), Malachi Favors and Vincent Davis plays at the Velvet.

Allright, I don't know who is gonna play with the ensemble. I've heard them at the Velvet in October. It was one of those strange evenings. I think it was the evening of the Cubs last playoff game. Nobody really in the audience and musicians walking in and watching the game. From what I remember the lineup was something like that: Isiah Spencer, drums, Darius Savage, bass, Enoch Williamson, drums, Ernest Dawkins, saxes, Steve Berry, trombone, maybe Isiah Jackson on bone as well. Nikki Mitchell, flutes and more musicians, especially from the younger generation of AACM like Kevin Nolems walking in as the evening progressed. I am not sure anymore if Don Moye sat in or I just had a good time talking to him. Would expect a lineup along those lines.

BN, you will have me convinced when the minions will have female members.

It's up and "running" again.

I don't want to speak for all the others, but I havn't.

"It appears that JC has also gone bye-bye" Good to thear it's not my 'puter, Chris. I am only an occasional lurker here and I love bn's posts on JC. I am amazed that she finds this board more testerone loaded.

Sad to hear. RIP Celia Cruz!

made my day! How long we have to wait, Chuck? Taking pre-orders?

Based on the previous posts I have to check out some of the mentioned records. Soul Manifesto sounds great I know I have heard Jones life once but can't remember where or with whom. Remember it sounding great. I recently dig a record of mine alot that I have taped for the car. Hilton Ruiz' "El Camino" nice session with Ruiz, Lew Soloff, Rivers, the Gonzlez bros, Steve Berrios, Dick Griffin and Rodney Jones.