He's back. Johnny Griffin at the Blue Note.

[Hardbopjazz]

I will definitely be there to catch this giant when he plays the Blue Note on March 15th and 16th. I can't recall the last time he was playing in NY. Anyone playing to go to the Blue Note to catch one of these shows?

Edited February 22, 2005 by Hardbopjazz

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Mid-week... 5 hours away. Sorry Johnny, but you gotta at least stay 'til the weekend for me to get my ass in there.

I E-mailed Michael Weiss, Johnny's pianist, to see if they might make their way through Boston and Michael said two nights in NYC and that's it.

I was hoping to get a chance to see Johnny one more time. The last time I saw him was unpleasant and that's not the way I'd like to remember him.

BTW, if you go, I'd be curious to as to the set list.

Later,

Kevin

Edited February 22, 2005 by Kevin Bresnahan

[Hardbopjazz]

I plan on seeing one of the shows, unless the wife makes plans for me. I'll tell you the set list and give a report when I go.

Edited February 22, 2005 by Hardbopjazz

[sheldonm]

I think I saw that he was going to be playing in Chicago in the near future???

[ghost of miles]

I think I saw that he was going to be playing in Chicago in the near future???

Griffin in Chicago

[scottb]

I will differently be there

Is this a Freudian slip that you plan to be "chemically enhanced" for the performance?

[Hardbopjazz]

I will differently be there

Is this a Freudian slip that you plan to be "chemically enhanced" for the performance?

Yes it was.

[sheldonm]

I think I saw that he was going to be playing in Chicago in the near future???

Griffin in Chicago

THanks David!

[Dan Gould]

Here's Ratliff's NYT review of Griff's Blue Note engagement:

Making a Coat of Many Colors, Stitched by a Single Tenor Sax

By BEN RATLIFF

Published: March 17, 2005

The tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin is one of those elite older jazz players who contain so much of what makes the music great - rhythm, soul, blues, humor, delight, maturity, sophistication, world-weariness. He has a sound and a presence, and everything he does is interesting, even moving and talking and introducing his band members.

Mr. Griffin lives in southwest France, near the Pyrenees, and he hasn't played in New York clubs since 2001 because of a stroke and heart trouble. He used to be known for speed and articulation, in Chicago and New York, before he left for Europe in the early 1960's; at 76, his playing has edged back from the super-fast tempos that he exulted in as a younger man. But now there's perhaps more to enjoy, and at the Blue Note on Tuesday night-the first of a two-night stand - he immediately established a canny method of reconnecting with his audience. The Blue Note is a fairly large club, and he insisted on talking without a microphone. The entire club fell silent every time he drew a breath to speak, and that made people pay closer attention to his playing.

In a quartet with the musicians that accompany him when he comes to New York - the pianist Michael Weiss, the bassist John Webber and the drummer Kenny Washington - Mr. Griffin sounded as if he were looking for fresh phrases. He often found them, in flowing arpeggios and gently eccentric gestural playing. His fallbacks, once in a while, were bebop lines, but more often a relaxed version of old rhythm-and-blues honking and honeydripping, with all of that style's magnificent knowingness and satire. (Mr. Griffin played in the 1940's under the Chicago bandleader Joe Morris, before bebop realigned jazz.) It's a mode of playing that is almost extinct, but combined with Mr. Griffin's harmonic sophistication it sounds as modern as anything.

With the band playing beautifully behind him, he played a set like many he has played before, including the standards "Just Friends" and "If I Should Lose You"; a few originals, one fast ("Hot Sake," based on "What Is This Thing Called Love"), one slow ("When We Were One"); and, at the end, a blues, full of easy, grace, repeating lines for emphasis. The set had tentative moments, but he ended fully on his feet, and it was as good a demonstration of blues phrasing as can be heard in jazz.

[sheldonm]

I can't wait to see him tomorrow night with Eric Alexander, Franz Jackson, Von Freeman, Ira Sullian, Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra in Chicago. I was lucky enough to secure media credentials to photograph the show..... I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Mark

[jazzmessenger]

I can't wait to see him tomorrow night with Eric Alexander, Franz Jackson, Von Freeman, Ira Sullian, Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra in Chicago. I was lucky enough to secure media credentials to photograph the show..... I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Mark

Mark,

I will see you there. I will be covering the show for jazzreview.com.

[ejp626]

I don't know what Sheldonm or jazzmessenger will say, but I felt it was a thoroughly enjoyable show. The first half was devoted to the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, which is a good unit, though of course I was hungering to see the famous tenors. The one thing I didn't care for, is I think the jazz vocalist is very weak. It is a matter of taste, but she came across as way too mannered and reliant on vocal tricks for me. One her second song, however, Johnny Griffin snuck out and joined her (might have been rehearsed though Jon Faddis didn't seem to be expecting it), so that salvaged that song.

The second half of the show had many highlights. Eric Alexander was first and he just tore up Sonny Stitt's The Eternal Triangle. Sheldonm and I saw Eric Alexander at the Jazz Showcase a few months back and he is becoming a major force on the tenor. Check him out when you can.

Then Franz Jackson. The guy is almost 93!!!! He did Body and Soul, but with just the rhythm section. Then he played and sang Strutting with Some Barbecue, which was amusing. Then he did a third bluesy song. Faddis decided it was worth giving him the extra song, and why not?

Then Ira Sullivan did a rousing version of Horace Silver's Nica's Dream (with the whole ensemble). This version had strong latin overtones.

Then Von Freeman did a compelling Stella by Starlight with just the rhythm section.

Then Johnny Griffin came out and did one of his own compositions. I forgot the name but it might have been You're the One. Anyway, the title ended with One. This was good, but there were definitely times Griffin was overwhelmed by the ensemble. It would have to be adjusted to hear him better over the group (if it was to be released). So it was good, but it could have been better.

Then they brought all five out on stage and Joe Segal gave four of them lifetime achievement plaques (not to Eric Alexander) and all of them did Jumping at the Woodside with the whole ensemble. It was so amazing; I do hope that is broadcast or comes out somehow. They just kept going down the line, taking a few bars each and passing the solo down. I believe the tenors went around two times each with 4 bar solos, then two times around with 2 bar solos, then maybe two or three more times with one bar solos. It was really something to hear. Clearly they didn't want the song to end.

So while it would have been great to get an entire show with Griffin, this was still a lot of fun. What a night! The concert ended around 10:40 and we headed out into the night. I'll be curious to hear the others' reactions.

Eric

[jazzmessenger]

Eric,

It's a very nice review. Personally, I really didin't care for the first half of the show... The Chicago Jazz Ensemble was a good unit, but it was a bit boring to me. The concert would have been better if it featured legendary tenor saxophonists from the beginning. The concert was also bit disorganized - so much problems at the ticketing, the piano falling apart, miscommunication between tenor and the Ensemble etc.

Having said that, the show was saved by the great tenor saxophonists played after the intermission. As you said, Franz Jackon was very amusing. It's hard to believe he is 93. Vonski and JG were fantastic. I wish they had played more songs. IMO, Eric Alexander and Ira Sullivan sounded best at the show. Overally, it was enjoyable owing to the second set.

That's all I can say with my limited English vocabulary... I wish I could write like you, Eric.

[ejp626]

There's no question it would have been a better show if it had featured the tenors all the way through. It was a bit of bait and switch, but it was organized by the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and they do have a right to feature their own musicians. They also probably did not have much time to work with these legends, other than Von Freeman.

It was a comedy of errors. As Jazzmessenger said, the show started late because of the ticketing issue. Fortunately, I had had my tickets mailed to me. Also, the pedals fell off the piano during the first set, but were fixed during the break!

I also agree with Jazzmessenger that in terms of working as a whole and being exciting music (played with the ensemble), it was the Eric Alexander and Ira Sullivan pieces. But really the Jumpin at the Woodside at the end was incredible. I really do hope it comes out somehow.

Sorry we didn't meet up. Hope you saw some other Chicago music while you were in town.

[sheldonm]

Eric,

Great job on the tunes and nice reveiw! I thought the first set was pretty good but I had hoped for some of the featured tenors. I hadn't realized before the show that they would go with this format. The Jazz Ensemble played a Coltrane Suite which featured Blue Steps, Looking Back, Freedom, a tune called Dendi, another called Who Can I Turn To and Zoot.

The show got much more exciting as they brought out Eric Alexander to play Eternal Triangle and moved on to the other players one by one. I think the tune Griffin played towards the end was called "When We Were One".

I can't believe the pedals fell off the piano.......the whole assembly fell off right before my eyes ! The Pianist was pissed! He managed to continue until the "rigged" them back in place during the break. Even then, it appeared they wedged the assembly into place with a towel. As far as the tickets go, I didn't realize there was a problem....tell me more!

Overall, a very cool show B-) ! The auditorium holds about 900 people and they had about 650 in attendance; should have been packed!!!

Mark

[ejp626]

Actually, Zoot was pretty good too. Forgot about that one.

The problem with the tickets was that if you had them held at the box office, there were not enough people to distribute them, so the line snaked out the door and also delayed the start of the concert. While there was some advertizing for the show, there could have been a lot more.

It was a lot of fun. Hope you can post a few photos.

Did you make it to Ravi Coltrane?

[sheldonm]

Actually, Zoot was pretty good too. Forgot about that one.

The problem with the tickets was that if you had them held at the box office, there were not enough people to distribute them, so the line snaked out the door and also delayed the start of the concert. While there was some advertizing for the show, there could have been a lot more.

It was a lot of fun. Hope you can post a few photos.

Did you make it to Ravi Coltrane?

Yes, I made it to Coltrane also. It was pretty good as he played a couple tunes from his new cd, one from his Mom's latest and finished the set with Giant Steps by some cat named John Col...... . I talked to him for a few minutes after the show; very friendly guy. I told him I've heard of his dad, John and that he was a good horm player too; he laughed B-) . I made a cheeeesy photo of him talking to Wayne Segal standing under the big mural of JC (not Jesus Christ) hanging on the wall. I'll try to post it tonight. I hope even one of my images are usable as he bobs and weaves like a prize fighter!!! This combined with the darkness of the club spells disaster when you're trying to photograph.

Mark

[jazzmessenger]

I made a cheeeesy photo of him talking to Wayne Segal standing under the big mural of JC (not Jesus Christ) hanging on the wall. I'll try to post it tonight. I hope even one of my images are usable as he bobs and weaves like a prize fighter!!! This combined with the darkness of the club spells disaster when you're trying to photograph.

Mark

I feel you pain...

[jazzmessenger]

It's kind of late... But the review and photographs from the concert can be found here.