John Arnold Griffin III was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of his death. A pioneering figure in hard bop, Griffin recorded prolifically as a bandleader in addition to stints with pianist Thelonious Monk, drummer Art Blakey, in partnership with fellow tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and as a member of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band after he moved to Europe in the 1960s. In 1995, Griffin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album by the Miles Davis quintet recorded in 1956 and released circa January 1960. Two sessions on May 11, 1956, and October 26 in the same year resulted in four albums—this one, Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.
Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album recorded in 1956 by the Miles Davis Quintet in Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, and released in July 1957. As the musicians had to pay for the studio time, their recordings are practically live. Two sessions on 11 May and 26 October 1956 resulted in four albums — this one, Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet and Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.
Saxophone Colossus is the sixth studio album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Perhaps Rollins's best-known album, it is often considered his breakthrough record. It was recorded monophonically on June 22, 1956, with producer Bob Weinstock and engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the latter's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Rollins led a quartet on the album that included pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach. Saxophone Colossus was released by Prestige Records to critical success and helped establish Rollins as a prominent jazz artist.
Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet, also known as Quintet/Sextet is a studio album by trumpeter Miles Davis and vibraphonist Milt Jackson released by Prestige Records in August of 1956. It was recorded on August 5, 1955. Credited to "Miles Davis and Milt Jackson", this was an "all-star" session, and did not feature any of the members of Davis's working group of that time. Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean appears on his own compositions “Dr. Jackle” and “Minor Apprehension”.
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk is a studio album released in 1958 by Atlantic Records. It is a collaboration between the Jazz Messengers, the group led by drummer Art Blakey, and Thelonious Monk on piano.
Whims of Chambers is a studio album by the Paul Chambers Sextet, recorded on September 21, 1956 and released on Blue Note circa January 1957. The sextet features trumpeter Donald Byrd, tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer ”Philly” Joe Jones.
Lush Life is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in early 1961 on Prestige Records. It was assembled from previously unissued tracks from three recording sessions at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 and 1958. As Coltrane's profile increased during the 1960s, some years after the end of his Prestige contract, the label used unissued recordings to create new albums without Coltrane's input or approval.
Trane's Blues is a compact disc credited to the jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1999 on Blue Note Records, catalogue 98240. It comprises recordings from sessions for Blue Note and United Artists Records as a sideman for Paul Chambers, Sonny Clark, Johnny Griffin, and Cecil Taylor that were issued respectively on their Whims of Chambers, Sonny's Crib, A Blowin' Session, and Hard Driving Jazz albums. Two selections are from Coltrane's own 1957 Blue Train, and "One for Four" had been previously unissued. "Trane's Blues" had been issued on the compilation High Step in 1975, previously known as "John Paul Jones" and named after himself, the bass player Chambers, and the drummer Philly Joe Jones. Like Prestige Records before them, as Coltrane's fame grew long after he had stopped recording for the label, Blue Note used varied recordings, often those where Coltrane had been merely a sideman, and reissued them as a new album with Coltrane's name prominently displayed. In this case, the Big Four conglomerate EMI continued that earlier practice.
Mal/2 is an album by American jazz pianist Mal Waldron released on the Prestige label in November 1957. The CD reissue added two additional recordings from the same sessions originally released on The Dealers (1957) as bonus tracks.
Johnny Griffin Vol. 2 is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, recorded in April 1957 and released in September or October of the same year on the Blue Note label. It was reissued in 1999, featuring an alternate take of "Smoke Stack."
Leapin' and Lopin' is an album by American jazz pianist Sonny Clark, recorded on November 13, 1961 and released on Blue Note in May 1962—Clark's final album as leader before his death the following hear.
Sonny's Crib is an album by jazz pianist Sonny Clark, released on the Blue Note label in March 1958. It features trumpeter Donald Byrd, trombonist Curtis Fuller, tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor. The first half of the album comprises three standards, the second half contains two Clark originals. Critic Reid Thompson compared the album favorably to Coltrane's Blue Train, seeing them as the epitome of the Blue Note sound in the late 1950s.
The Congregation is an album by American tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, recorded in 1957 and released on the Blue Note label. It was his last recording for the label. The cover art was designed by Andy Warhol and Reid Miles.
Big 6 is the debut album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1958 and released on the Riverside label. It contains the first recording of Benny Golson's jazz standard "Blues March".
Way Out! is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin, released on the Riverside label in 1958.
Johnny Griffin Sextet is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin and his all-star sextet, released on the Riverside label in 1958. It was Griffin's first album as leader on Riverside, and was recorded the day before the Way Out! session dates.
The Little Giant is an album by jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin and his all-star sextet, released on the Riverside label in 1959. It was Griffin's third album on Riverside.
Johnny Griffin is an album by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Griffin featuring tracks recorded in 1956 and released on the Argo label in 1958. The album features the first recordings made under Griffin's leadership but was not released until 1958 by which time his first Blue Note album Introducing Johnny Griffin (1956) had been released and he had attracted attention as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
Tough Tenor Favorites is an album by saxophonists Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin recorded in 1962 and released on the Jazzland label.
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