JOHNNY GRIFFIN WITH STRINGS AND BRASS

[Sundog]

Billie Holiday tribute albums are a dime a dozen. Is this one worth my money? It sure looks good on "paper"

White Gardenia details

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I was thinking about this record last night, as it happens. Arranger-wise, who does what on this one? (and are there really no violins in the string section?)

Mike

[JSngry]

Fine side. Go for it.

[Jim R]

Violas and cellos. Arrangements by Melba Liston or Norman Simmons (four of the ten tracks).

[Michael Fitzgerald]

So who does which tunes - does it say?

Mike

[Jim R]

Simmons does #'s 4-6, and 8

[jlhoots]

I had this on vinyl a "million" years ago.

Recall it as very cool.

Had a great cover too.

[Dan Gould]

I shied away from this for a time due to the instrumentation but once I tried it I loved it.

[Chuck Nessa]

I can not imagine a project by JG that I'd "shy away from". Might not want to spend money, but I'd pay attention.

[Dan Gould]

I can not imagine a project by JG that I'd "shy away from".  Might not want to spend money, but I'd pay attention.

←

Forgive me, Chuck, but I hadn't developed an appreciation for strings at the time.

At least I corrected my oversight eventually!

[jlhoots]

One Griffin that took a while to "kick in" was Change Of Pace with Julius Watkins on french horn.

Once it did it was very nice.

[Brad]

Strings says it all for me. Unless it's Bird or Clifford, not in this corner.

[jazzbo]

It's a great date. A "real" tribute, not a merchandiser's.

[mikeweil]

I love it. It is very sincere, Griffin's playing is as heartfelt as can be - judging from his solos here, he must have adored Lady Day - the arrangements are sensitive and played with love and care - one of the best tribute albums I have. It is strings and brass, some nice short Clark Terry, Nat Adderley, and Jimmy Cleveland solos thrown in for good measure. The strings do not dominate but are integrated into the brass and rhythm in a very peculiar way. And note is is mostly only cellos, making for a very nice low-tinged and mellow sound - the violas are only on three tracks.

All of the few Riverside albums with strings and/or orchestra are special!

Edited August 30, 2005 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

[Soulstation1]

i might have to d/l this from e-music

i was just refreshed today.....

ss1

[Sundog]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I will be including this as part of my next big online order which I will be placing this weekend.

[ghost of miles]

It's the first Griffin I ever bought, and well worth the money. Recorded almost two years to the day after her death (in fact, I think the sessions concluded on on the second anniversary).

[Kalo]

You guys are making this sound very good.

The lack of violins appeals to me, and I really like Melba Liston's string arrangements on Randy Weston's Earth Birth(Verve) from the mid-'90s.

And I haven't bought anything by Griffin for at least two months!

[ghost of miles]

You guys are making this sound very good.

The lack of violins appeals to me, and I really like Melba Liston's string arrangements on Randy Weston's Earth Birth(Verve) from the mid-'90s.

And I haven't bought anything by Griffin for at least two months!

←

Kalo,

You can listen to three tracks from it on the "For Lady" program on early Holiday tribute LPs that I did for Night Lights earlier this year.

"Detour Ahead" 1:00-5:38

"Gloomy Sunday" and

"Good Morning Heartache" 37:00-45:22

For Lady

[Kalo]

Thanks, Ghost!

I've been meaning to check out your archives for some time now.

This is the perfect excuse (not that I need one).