Johnny Griffin: The Man I Love

Original Recordings Group (ORG)

Recorded Live At The Montmartre Jazzhuis, Copenhagen March 30th, 1967

The LP contains music which is wholly typical of a Johnny Griffin set, rich in blues either actual (such as ``Blues For Harvey``) or as an overlying mood (Duke`s lovely ``Sophisticated Lady,`` painted here in varying shades of azure). Despite the different instruments, Griffin`s most obvious influence must be Charlie Parker and if one plays part of the LP at the incorrect speed of 45 RPM the Parker quality is perhaps more noticeable. (The speed change shifts the tenor up into the alto saxophone register.) Listen to the manner in wich Griffin eveen when those phrases consist of a flurry of notes you will observe the Parker-like rhythmic approach. ``I like to play fast. I get excited. When the rhythm section gets cooking I want to explode,`` Griffin once told an interviewer. He was to modest to even hint that his own playing, in turn, was the cause of many rhythm sections cooking as they have never cookes before.

Enginered by Birger Svan

Produced by Alan Bates

Mastered by Bernie Grundman

Sleeve photograph by David Redfern

Sleeve design by Alex Tenta