Johnny Griffin - A Blowing Session [Remaster]

Artist:

Griffin, Johnny

See Also:

Gillespie, Dizzy Clarke, Kenny Blakey, Art Jefferson, Eddie Roach, Max Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis/Johnny Griffin - Blues Up & Down Martial Solal/Johnny Griffin - In & Out

Description:

Personnel: Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley, John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Blakey (drums).
Producer: Alfred Lion.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on April 6, 1957. Originally released on Blue Note (1559).
This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series.
This early date for saxophonist Johnny Griffin is one of his best. In addition to Griffin`s renowned skill and speed on the tenor sax--which is evident throughout 1957`s A BLOWING SESSION--the personnel here comprises an almost unbelievable all-star lineup. With Art Blakey`s hard-swinging thunder on the drums, Paul Chambers holding down delicate-yet-complex bass lines, and Wynton Kelly`s bluesy touch on the piano, the rhythm section is simply unbeatable. Add to this young firebrand Lee Morgan on trumpet, and the triple saxophone threat of Griffin, Hank Mobley, and John Coltrane, and you have one of the most talented bands of the hard-bop era.
These musicians existed in the same general orbit--all had played with groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, or Blakey himself. As expected, they display a marvelous rapport, with plenty of fine interplay, invention, and heat to keep things cooking. The set features two Griffin originals and two standards ("The Way You Look Tonight," played at breakneck speed, and the lightly swinging "All the Things You Are"). The album is aptly named--Morgan, Coltrane, Mobley, and Griffin are in dazzling form on every track. This hard-bop classic deserves a place in every jazz fan`s library.

Track Listing:

A BLOWIN` SESSION:

1. Way You Look Tonight, The
2. Ball Bearing
3. All the Things You Are
4. Smoke Stack
5. Smoke Stack - (alternate take, bonus track)

Album Information

Release Date:

05/18/1999

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Jazz Instrument

Subgenre:

Saxophone

Label:

Blue Note Records (USA)

Catalog Number:

99009

Original Release Year:

1957

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Mono

Guest Artist:

Lee Morgan; Paul Chambers; John Coltrane; Art Blakey; Hank Mobley; Wynton Kelly

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