Johnny Griffin has left us...

[Hardbopjazz]

I've just read that Johnny Griffin has past away this morning. Sad. Another great has gone.

[Chuck Nessa]

Thanks for everything Mr. Griffin.

[jazzbo]

Hope it's not so. . . .

[B. Goren.]

Sad news.

[mmilovan]

A little bit too much for me, week ago it was Jo Stafford, now Johnny Griffin!

RIP!

Edited July 25, 2008 by mmilovan

[Christiern]

I took this photo in Perugia, August 1984

He was 80 and still working. Scheduled to appear at Saint-Georges-sur-Cher this evening, w. Rhoda Scott.

I knew him fairly well and will miss his presence on the scene.

[ejp626]

Terrible news, but thanks so much for the great music. I'm so glad I managed to see him in Chicago. I never thought I would see him live.

[White Lightning]

He Left us a wealth of memories.

May he RIP

[Free For All]

He'll always be around in all the great music he left for us to enjoy.

Thank you, and rest in peace.

[Big Beat Steve]

Ouch ... that's real sad.

Another giant of the golden era of jazz gone.

R.I.P.

Time to pull out one of his records again as a final tribute.

[BeBop]

Peaceful rest, Little Giant. And thanks.

[Dan Gould]

Very sad news.

[Stereojack]

A true giant! Got to see him a couple of times.

RIP

[Cyril]

Oh my God that's terrible news...

R.I.P. Little Giant

Johnny Griffin soloing over an up tempo blues.

[B. Goren.]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...E8&refer=us

[Shawn]

I've just read that Johnny Griffin has past away this morning. Sad. Another great has gone.

Where was this published?

[Hot Ptah]

This is a huge loss. To me, Johnny Griffin was one of the greatest jazz musicians still active. I will always remember the several wonderful concerts I saw in 1978-81, always with Ronnie Matthews on piano.

He really tore it up at the 1978 Ann Arbor Jazz Festival, as the opening act in a triple bill with Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard following. To me, he stole the entire evening, was clearly the best improviser of the three that night. It was interesting to compare his improvisations with Dexter's, in entire sets back to back. As good as Dexter was, he tended to tread water in his improvisations sometimes, to fall back on repeated patterns and lots of quotes, which were often humorous. To me it seemed that Dexter's frequent quotes also helped him get to the next chorus sometimes when he did not have much left to say. On the contrary, Johnny Griffin's stream of ideas never dwindled.

At the end of Dexter's set, Johnny came out and joined Dexter's group for two truly exciting numbers, "Blues Up and Down" and "Cheesecake". I have never heard an audience at any jazz concert go as wild as the crowd of 2000 in Hill Auditorium after "Blues Up and Down." It was pandemonium in the sold out theater, for several minutes.

Johnny was also very gracious and nice in person, when I talked to him after a concert.

[ghost of miles]

I've just read that Johnny Griffin has past away this morning. Sad. Another great has gone.

Where was this published?

It was posted to the Jazz Programmers Listserv and another jazz e-mail group that I'm on...seems to be true.

[jazzbo]

Since it seems to be so. . . well Johnny, thanks so much and rest in peace!

[paul secor]

Thanks for sharing your music with us, Mr. Griffin.

[Shawn]

This is too upsetting for me to comprehend right now, will post thoughts later.

[brownie]

News story from AFP:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080725/ts_al...in_080725153525

The little giant went away!

A giant loss!

[Hardbopjazz]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...E8&refer=us

Thanks for posting the link.

[7/4]

Bummer...RIP

.

[Tom Storer]

Oh, man, that's terrible news. The JAMFs are always with us, but Johnny Griffin is gone. R.I.P., Mr. Griffin. A friend and I were just reminiscing last night about seeing Griffin in concert with Ronnie Matthews. I saw him a lot with that quartet, with Kenny Washington on drums, and also a couple of times when he was touring as second tenor with Dexter's quartet. What a player he was, and what a personality!