JSngry Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 (edited) Quoth the Bastarded Ones ( http://www.dustygroove.com/jazzcd2.htm#378606 ): Jumpin R&B work from the mighty Griffin Brothers -- one of the best set's we've ever seen to collect their key early singles for Dot! At the time, the group were one of the hottest things going on the DC scene -- working in a rough, post-swing style that had plenty of jazz in the mix -- but which was also done in a harder, heavier R&B mode overall. Vocalists Margie Day and Tommy Brown sing with the group on a number of these tunes -- but even the instrumental ones stand out nicely, thanks to some searing sax work and a really tightly vamping rhythm section. Titles include "Griff's Boogie", "Little Red Rooster", "Hot Pepper", "I'll Get A Deal", "House Near The Railroad Track", "Ace In The Hole", "Weepin & Cryin", "One Steady Baby", "The Clock Song", "Tra La La", "Sadie Green", and "Blues With A Beat". 23 tracks in all! Checked out the AMG samples, and they all sound freakin' GREAT, especially the one called "The Teaser", which iall by itself s gonna make me order this puppy tomorrow. Y'all GOTTA check out this tenor player! Oh HELL yeah! Never heard of these guys myself, but I've got a lot to learn. Any of our many dwwp R&B fans here got some detail about these guys. I did find this on the web: http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/combotwo.html but any thing additional and/or more detailed would certainly be welcome. Edited March 22, 2005 by JSngry Quote
wolff Posted March 22, 2005 Report Posted March 22, 2005 Put a Churchill in the middle guys mouth and you could call them the Marx Brothers..... Sorry! Quote
paul secor Posted March 24, 2005 Report Posted March 24, 2005 Jim - Ace (UK) released a Griffin Brothers LP in the mid-eighties. From the 16 sides reissued on that (nicely mastered by Bob Jones - one of the best), they were a very fine r&b band. For me, their best work was their instrumental sides. Their main vocalist, Margie Day, was ok, but pretty much of her time and genre. The tenor saxist on "The Teaser" is, according to the LP liner notes, Leadbitter and Slaven's Blues Discography, and my ears (though I can be easily fooled), Noble Watts, one of the great r&b tenors. Ernest "Buddy" Griffin was a very good boogie piano player - "Griff's Boogie" is a good feature for his playing. If you've ordered the CD already, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Almost forgot - Belton Evans, who later made a name for himself in NYC r&b circles, is the drummer on many of their sides. Quote
JSngry Posted March 24, 2005 Author Report Posted March 24, 2005 The tenor saxist on "The Teaser" is, according to the LP liner notes, Leadbitter and Slaven's Blues Discography, and my ears (though I can be easily fooled), Noble Watts, one of the great r&b tenors. Well no wonder then! One of the real R&B players, the guys who played it vecasue it was in their blood, not because they needed a gig, and one of the guys R&B who could really play the saxophone, get the sound and everything. Those guys are as much my heroes as the jazz greats because they took the horn seriously, learned what it could do for them, and played music first and style second. YEah, this one's already been shipped. Anxious to get it in. Not familiar w/Belton Evans, however. What's the deal w/him? Always more to learn.... Quote
paul secor Posted March 25, 2005 Report Posted March 25, 2005 I don't know a lot about Belton Evans, except for the fact that he recorded with King Curtis and played drums on a bunch of Prestige/Bluesville sides in the early 60's. Quote
paul secor Posted March 25, 2005 Report Posted March 25, 2005 The tenor saxist on "The Teaser" is, according to the LP liner notes, Leadbitter and Slaven's Blues Discography, and my ears (though I can be easily fooled), Noble Watts, one of the great r&b tenors. Well no wonder then! One of the real R&B players, the guys who played it vecasue it was in their blood, not because they needed a gig, and one of the guys R&B who could really play the saxophone, get the sound and everything. Those guys are as much my heroes as the jazz greats because they took the horn seriously, learned what it could do for them, and played music first and style second. Well said. R&B tenor players have traditionally been looked down on by jazz fans as just "honkers and screamers", but there was much more to their playing than just that. Men like Noble "Thin Man" Watts were true musicians. There should be a thread here on r&b tenors. I'm too tired to start one tonight, but perhaps tomorrow evening. Or perhaps someone else with more energy than I can get one going. Quote
JSngry Posted March 25, 2005 Author Report Posted March 25, 2005 A thead like that would certainly be welcome. I'd love to learn some new names, as well as learning more about old faves like Lee Allen, Red Tyler, Sam Taylor, Red Prysock, etc. Want me to fix you some coffee? Quote
JSngry Posted March 26, 2005 Author Report Posted March 26, 2005 heartsick as i often am the THE SOUTH i'm listening El Campo, Texas native, Houston scene badass Little Willie Littlefield-- not a huge innovator but a superb stylist-- this morning, his early Modern sides... & am like shit, who the hell ** is ** that w/the horn?! this sumbitch can PLAY. two words: Don Wilkerson. coffee's ready, bro'-- c Oh REALLY?!?! Pour me a cup, will ya'? Ill be right over. Quote
JSngry Posted March 26, 2005 Author Report Posted March 26, 2005 Yo Tyno - Not surpringly, there's no AMG listing for Elder Don on a Little Willie LIttlefield album/compilation/etc. so help a brother out here and point a finger in the direction, willya? Quote
paul secor Posted March 27, 2005 Report Posted March 27, 2005 (edited) Oct. 1949 Littlefield w. Wilbert Brown, tpt; Don Wilkerson, John Handy, Buddy Floyd, saxes; Johnny Moore, gtr; Bill Davis, bs; Chuck Thomas, dms. Midnight Whistle It's Midnight (No Place To Go) Drinkin' Hadacol Come On Baby Farewell The Moon Is Risin' Merry Xmas Nov. 1949 Same lineup - horns omitted on Frightened Tell Me Baby Your Love Wasn't So Frightened Why Leave Me All Alone Leadbitter, Fancourt, Pelletier - Blues Records 1943-1970 Volume Two I have some of this material on an Ace LP - Don't have the CD that Clem mentioned, but I assume that some or all of these tunes are on that one. Wonder if this is the John Handy who later played with Mingus. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz places him as returning to California from Texas in '49, so the time frame makes it a possibility. Edited March 27, 2005 by paul secor Quote
JSngry Posted April 2, 2005 Author Report Posted April 2, 2005 Quoth the Bastarded Ones ( http://www.dustygroove.com/jazzcd2.htm#378606 ): Jumpin R&B work from the mighty Griffin Brothers -- one of the best set's we've ever seen to collect their key early singles for Dot! At the time, the group were one of the hottest things going on the DC scene -- working in a rough, post-swing style that had plenty of jazz in the mix -- but which was also done in a harder, heavier R&B mode overall. Vocalists Margie Day and Tommy Brown sing with the group on a number of these tunes -- but even the instrumental ones stand out nicely, thanks to some searing sax work and a really tightly vamping rhythm section. Titles include "Griff's Boogie", "Little Red Rooster", "Hot Pepper", "I'll Get A Deal", "House Near The Railroad Track", "Ace In The Hole", "Weepin & Cryin", "One Steady Baby", "The Clock Song", "Tra La La", "Sadie Green", and "Blues With A Beat". 23 tracks in all! Arrived yesterday, and played last night. Good stuff. Very good stuff. Hell, for $8.99, GREAT stuff! Quote
JSngry Posted April 2, 2005 Author Report Posted April 2, 2005 Oh yeah - the liners mention that the bassist on some sessions is none other that Wilbur Little, or, at least that he was a regular member of the band. They're not clear on which it is. Quote
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