School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Johnny Griffin

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Johnny Griffin (1928 to 2008) was an American tenor saxophonist, nicknamed The Little Giant for his small stature and powerful playing. He learned music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting on clarinet and moving via oboe to alto saxophone. At fifteen he was already playing with T-Bone Walker. Three days after graduating he joined Lionel Hampton's big band, and Hampton encouraged him to play tenor. In 1945, at seventeen, he was first heard on record.

Music and breakthrough

After two years in the army he made his name in Chicago. Blue Note signed him before Riverside could, and in 1956 his first album, Introducing Johnny Griffin, was released, with Wynton Kelly, Curly Russell and Max Roach. A Blowin' Session from 1957 featured John Coltrane and Hank Mobley as guests. In 1957 he played for a few months with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and then in Thelonious Monk's quartet, succeeding Coltrane. He can be heard on Thelonious in Action and Misterioso. In 1963 he moved to France and in 1978 to the Netherlands. There he played in the big band of Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland, among others, and alongside the tenor saxophonist Eddie Lockjaw Davis.

Influence

Griffin is regarded as a pioneer of hard bop. His style rested on dizzying technique and an enormous stock of bebop phrases. He liked to quote from classical music and opera. He recorded extensively as a bandleader and kept playing until the month of his death. In 1995 he received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Introducing Johnny Griffin from 1956 and notice his speed: how long he can sustain a line full of notes without losing his powerful tone.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists