JOHNNY GRIFFIN SEXTET - The Little Giant LP - RIVERSIDE DG 1st Press MIC & REELS
$
310
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
The Little Giant: JOHNNY GRIFFIN Sextet
Original 1959 RIVERSIDE label, MONO pressing, cat. RLP 12-304
US 1st pressing, Riverside deep grooved blue labels, with mic and reels logo.
Johnny Griffin (1928-2008) was a first-class blower, a tenorman who believed in the inspiration of the moment and reacting to circumstances, as is self-evident on the two albums included in this set. ‘Little Giant’ is one of those rare items that elicit a visceral response from the listener. Direct and virile, Griffin never allows his supreme command of the instrument to obscure the emotional burden of his playing; he simply compells attention no matter the musical context. Here it’s provided by Norman Simmons, who composed three pieces and scored them for the three horns, and a quality rhythm section led by pianist Wynton Kelly.
Standout tracks include “The Message” and Griffin’s “63rd Street Theme.” Interestingly, Griffin reveals a sizeable Don Byas influence on Babs Gonzales’ lovely “Lonely One,” played by tenor, bass and drums. On the others, Blue Mitchell, Julian Priester and Kelly’s solos contribute enormously to the album’s success. On ‘Change of Pace’, the rich, swinging combination of two basses (one bowed, the other plucked) blended with drums, and the addition of the woody, mellow sound of Watkins’ cool, calm French horn—to contrast with Griffin’s knife-edged tenor saxophone—opens some unusually interesting possibilities for jazz explorations.
Record - visual grade: VG++ with paper scuffs; play grade: fantastic and clean sound, between EX and NM with minimal background noises, very solid listening and highly-collectible copy. Cover: VG condition, with common wear especially on spines and borders; pen writing on the back.
International shippings made by POST NL registered mail worldwide (Economic/Standard) or UPS STANDARD / EXPRESS SAVER (Expedited)
price rating
