Johnny Griffin R.I.P.

Posted on | July 25, 2008 | No Comments

by Brian Nation

I like to play fast. I get excited, and I have to sort of control myself, restrain myself. But when the rhythm section gets cooking, I want to explode.
– Johnny Griffin

The couple of times I heard tenor saxophonist Johhny Griffin in live performance were without question among the most exciting musical experiences of my life. The guy liked to play fast. Ralph J. Gleason wrote, Unquestionably Johnny Griffin can play the tenor saxophone faster, literally, than anyone else alive. At least he can claim this until it’s demonstrated otherwise. And in the course of playing with this incredible speed, he also manages to blow longer without refueling than you would ordinarily consider possible. With this equipment he is able to play almost all there could possibly be played in any give chorus.

It wasn’t just showing off. Every note he played was perfect; steeped in pure jazz and blues soul. You could tell he loved every moment he was on the bandstand and the joy was infectious. At the end of the night he was drenched in sweat but absolutely beaming with delight.

Griffin died today, at his home in Mauprevoir, a village in the west-central La Vienne district, where he had spent the last 18 years of his life. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 80 years old.

Johnny Griffin at Wikipedia
Johnny Griffin discography