Search - Johnny Griffin :: Way Out

No way out of it!

Kuno Krook | Muiderberg, The Netherlands | 04/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This record, originally bought second hand in 1960, has always been a staple in my collection. It has everything a Griffin record should have and finds him in the period, that his tone was softer, the tonal centre of his sound extremely liquid and flexible, which enhanced the quality of his already intense swing. Also, the rhythm section leaves nothing to be desired with Philly Joe especially impressive. Highlights are a torrid rendering of Cherokee and a lyrical, sensitive Sunny Monday, that features a beaut of a solo by Kenny Drew. Johnny Griffin's sextet record, on which the present quartet was made a sextet by adding Pepper Adams and Donald Byrd and which was recorded at the same session, is also highly recommended. And yes, Naum Gabor's 'The Tulip', that graces Way out's cover, is still one of Rotterdam's main artery 'Coolsingel' special charms for me."

Just way in !

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 09/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those sixties Griffin records that every jazz enthusiast should own. Simply because this is Jazz at its best. It is paradigmatical Jazz. Griff had chops, sound, ideas, freshness, attitude, personality, everything a great Jazz player should have. He is the epitome of sixties tenor saxophone. He wasn't too adventurous like Trane, crude like Henderson, or ironic as Rollins, he was neither too mainstream as other fellows (LockJaw Davis for example). He was just one of the best because he impersonified the "pure" jazz approach of the period. Hard bop with chops you may call it. With a lot of blues and "soul" in it. In the sixties the Griff recorded a vast number of splendid jazz dates and this one is among the best of them (in addition to this one I want to suggest Looking at Monk an album Griff recorded with his tenor pal LockJaw Davis). The blues bop piano of Kenny Drew provided the best enviroment possible for the Griff here, giving him the change to bop or to play soulful blues phrases whenever he wanted. Most of the tunes are medium up tempo. Cherokee instead will blow you away baby! Excellent Griff record, very very good."