Hardbopjazz Posted April 28, 2004 Report Posted April 28, 2004 Anyone know what Johnny Griffin has been up to lately? I would like to see him live. Does he still play? Quote
sheldonm Posted April 28, 2004 Report Posted April 28, 2004 I think I heard he was playing a little in Europe and that his health may be an issue as well. Quote
king ubu Posted April 28, 2004 Report Posted April 28, 2004 I think I heard he was playing a little in Europe and that his health may be an issue as well. I saw him some time ago, two years, maybe. With Solal and Orsted-Pedersen. He seemed tired. Played out. Pretty sad, actually. The other relatively recent thing I heard of him is as a guest (along with Frank Wess who at least then still had his thing together) with Gene Harris. It was a live broadcast I heard over the radio and the commentators said he could barely stand... (that was summer 1999). ubu Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted April 28, 2004 Report Posted April 28, 2004 As I posted recently over on the All About Jazz board, the last time I saw Johnny about 2 or 3 years ago in Boston, he was drunk and swayed on the bandstand. Many of his normally humorous chats between songs were babbles that hardly anyone understood. He thought they were very funny and most times he was laughing his ass off by himself. It was sad. I know he was drunk because I talked to him between sets and got an autograph. If I had lit a match at the time, I think he would have ignited! His autograph is a blob of silver ink on my "A Blowing Session" CD booklet. However, even in that condition, he played his ass off and it was a decent show. Unfortunately, the set list was pretty much the same as the other times I saw him. I bet I saw him 3 or 4 years in a row back then and the set list hardly varied. I hope he comes through town again. I'd like to see him one more time and see if I can erase that one "off" memory. Later, Kevin Quote
pepe Posted April 28, 2004 Report Posted April 28, 2004 (edited) When sober he still delivers. What I've heard from him when drunk (Griffin. not me) has been below par - occasionally a disaster. He needs someone to look after him before he gets on stage. Edited April 28, 2004 by pepe Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted April 28, 2004 Author Report Posted April 28, 2004 Wow, sad to hear he is drinking too much. I think a lot of these older guys hate that they still have to play live to survive. That the impression I got when I saw Jimmy Smith. Quote
stevebop Posted April 29, 2004 Report Posted April 29, 2004 I posted this on All About Jazz recently. I think johnny 's drinking days might be behind him: I had the opportunity to talk with Johnny by telephone two weeks ago. He's doing fine. I'm not sure what his health problems were but they seemed to have side tracked him for a couple of years. He just turned 76 on April 24th. He was traveling to Finland for a concert that included Kirk Lightsey. His health has kept him from traveling to the States recently but now that he's doing better, maybe we can look forward to seeing him here. He would usually come home in April to celebrate his birthday in Chicago and play a few gigs in Boston and New York and elsewhere. BTW, I featured Johnny's music for two hours on my radio show last Friday. It will be webcast in the near future. Check in at www.wgbh.org/jazz __________________ Steve Schwartz Jazz From Studio 4 Friday, 7pm-midnight WGBH, 89.7FM, Boston www.wgbh.org Quote
mikeweil Posted April 29, 2004 Report Posted April 29, 2004 (edited) He has a guest feature on James Carter's latest release, but as I understand, that was recorded two or three years ago. Edited April 29, 2004 by mikeweil Quote
skeith Posted April 30, 2004 Report Posted April 30, 2004 I have one sort of interesting Johnny Griffin story. I was watching his gig at the Village Vanguard when Griffin announced to the audience that Miles Daves had died. There was an audible gasp in the room... then Griffin played a Miles tune. Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted April 30, 2004 Report Posted April 30, 2004 I have one sort of interesting Johnny Griffin story. I was watching his gig at the Village Vanguard when Griffin announced to the audience that Miles Daves had died. There was an audible gasp in the room... then Griffin played a Miles tune. Boy, I'm really off on a tangent on this one... I was at the John Coltrane Memorial Concert the night Miles died. I went in knowing he was gone and I was hoping for a lift from the musicians. I was in a bit of a funk. From the reaction of the audience when they announced it from the stage, it was clear that most had not heard the news. It was a very emotional concert that night. Later, Kevin Quote
Michael Weiss Posted February 28, 2005 Report Posted February 28, 2005 Johnny Griffin reunites his quartet with Michael Weiss, John Webber, Kenny Washington for an upcoming two day stint at the Blue Note, NYC, March 15 and 16. Quote
king ubu Posted February 28, 2005 Report Posted February 28, 2005 Hey Michael, congrats on that gig, and enjoy your reunion! And please record it for us poor Europeans To correct my picture painted of Griffin above: I saw a festival concert taped somewhere in Germany (Europa Park festival, I think? Didn't know that even existed), and Griffin looks and plays much better than what I witnessed in my above post. Also I watched that (rather disappointing) tv bit of Roberta Gamabarini's all stars (with Griff, Hargrove and Slide Hampton), and Griff was fine and well-looking there, too - they had a few short backstage shots in there between tunes, and I think once someone other than Griff even pulled a joke that they had to hide the beer from him or something). ubu Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted February 28, 2005 Report Posted February 28, 2005 I just wish it wsn't mid-week. It's just too far for me to go and I can't miss work because I have a week vacation coming up in April. I really hope Johnny makes another swing through Boston again. BTW, anyone in NYC should go. Michael's playing is worth the price itself. Later, Kevin Quote
sheldonm Posted March 2, 2005 Report Posted March 2, 2005 The Chicago show will be Griffin, Eric Alexander, Ira Sullivan, Franz Jackson and Von Freeman with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (led by Jon Faddis).....what a show that will be! Mark Quote
Dan Gould Posted March 2, 2005 Report Posted March 2, 2005 EA is running with some staggering talent for that show. A heckuva lineup, I'm jealous! Quote
JSngry Posted March 2, 2005 Report Posted March 2, 2005 Who's older, Von or Franz? Guess if I want to keep playing forever I should move to Chicago? Quote
Bright Moments Posted March 2, 2005 Report Posted March 2, 2005 Johnny Griffin reunites his quartet with Michael Weiss, John Webber, Kenny Washington for an upcoming two day stint at the Blue Note, NYC, March 15 and 16. congrat's michael! hope they record it! B-) Quote
sheldonm Posted March 2, 2005 Report Posted March 2, 2005 (edited) Who's older, Von or Franz? Guess if I want to keep playing forever I should move to Chicago? Von's a spring chicken compared to Franz ! Franz was 92 in November and I'm sure Von is 82. Edited March 2, 2005 by sheldonm Quote
Niko Posted February 3, 2010 Report Posted February 3, 2010 (edited) here are two lengthy Griffin interviews (among others), transcriprion is so-so i have made some suggestions for a character key below http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer.html 10/9/82 Jimmy Rustler = Jimmy Rushing?? Count Bassey = Count Basie Denny Goodman = Benny Goodman Lionel Hamilton = Lionel Hampton Ham = Lionel Hampton Ernie Cobb = Arnett Cobb Lou Buckner = Milt Buckner? Herby Steals = Herbie Fields? Sippy Wallace = ? Dina Washington = Dinah Washington Bill Brower = Bill Grauer Oren Keeton = Orrin Keepnews Archie Chef = Archie Shepp Jackie McClain = Jackie McLean Ben Rowdy = Ben Riley? Larry Gibb = Larry Gales? Cot Terry = Clark Terry Coleman Harper = Coleman Hawkins Shaky Pay = Chat qui Peche Charlie Parlor = Charlie Parker Louie Armstrong = Louis Armstrong Shaky Panks = Chat qui peche Rocky Orwell = ? Joe? [any idea] Robb L Gray - Wardell Gray Carnage Hall = Carnegie Hall Charlie Bird = Charlie Parker Artie Sharp = Artie Shaw Roy Aldrich = Roy Eldridge Roland's Hurt = Roland Kirk Montello = Manzello Billy Joe Jones = Philly Joe Jones Paul Chaney = Paul Chambers Art Blakely = Art Blakey Oscar Predator = Oscar Peterson ? Albert's Connoted = ??? Kenny Clark = Kenny Clarke ____________ Ham = Lionel Hampton Mel Butler = Milt Buckner T-Bone Walk = T-Bone Walker Rum Porgy = Rhumboogie Errol Brado = ?? Persian Ballroom = Pershing Ballroom? Jimmie Lundsford = Jimmy Lunceford Amhad Jamal = Ahmad Jamal Arnet Carlson = Arnett Cobb ?? Matt Green = Matthew Gee ?? Dizzy Gillepsie = Dizzy Gillespie Harriman's Special = Airmail Special Joe Morrison = Joe Morris Matthew G. = Matthew Gee Jimmy Ryan = ?? Gene Allis = Gene Ammons King Colax = King Kolax Tineakly = ?? Mack Schroats = Max Roach E. G. Sumamon = = Idrees Sulieman (thanks to King Ubu) Shahib Shahaab = Sahib Shihab Leroy Wright = Leo Wright Neal _____, Kenny Peterson = Nils Henning Orsted Petersen Sonny Rowlings = Sonny Rollins Andre Previne = Andre Previn Lou Smith = Louis Smith Gene Hammis = Gene Ammons Edited February 3, 2010 by Niko Quote
king ubu Posted February 3, 2010 Report Posted February 3, 2010 Jimmy Ryan's was a jazz club. See here, for instance: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/journalists/morgenstern2.htmand Sippie Wallace a blues singer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sippie_Wallace Quote
Hoppy T. Frog Posted February 5, 2010 Report Posted February 5, 2010 Oh god, some of those are hilarious! "Oscar Predator". here are two lengthy Griffin interviews (among others), transcriprion is so-so i have made some suggestions for a character key below http://www.umich.edu/~afroammu/standifer.html 10/9/82 Jimmy Rustler = Jimmy Rushing?? Count Bassey = Count Basie Denny Goodman = Benny Goodman Lionel Hamilton = Lionel Hampton Ham = Lionel Hampton Ernie Cobb = Arnett Cobb Lou Buckner = Milt Buckner? Herby Steals = Herbie Fields? Sippy Wallace = ? Dina Washington = Dinah Washington Bill Brower = Bill Grauer Oren Keeton = Orrin Keepnews Archie Chef = Archie Shepp Jackie McClain = Jackie McLean Ben Rowdy = Ben Riley? Larry Gibb = Larry Gales? Cot Terry = Clark Terry Coleman Harper = Coleman Hawkins Shaky Pay = Chat qui Peche Charlie Parlor = Charlie Parker Louie Armstrong = Louis Armstrong Shaky Panks = Chat qui peche Rocky Orwell = ? Joe? [any idea] Robb L Gray - Wardell Gray Carnage Hall = Carnegie Hall Charlie Bird = Charlie Parker Artie Sharp = Artie Shaw Roy Aldrich = Roy Eldridge Roland's Hurt = Roland Kirk Montello = Manzello Billy Joe Jones = Philly Joe Jones Paul Chaney = Paul Chambers Art Blakely = Art Blakey Oscar Predator = Oscar Peterson ? Albert's Connoted = ??? Kenny Clark = Kenny Clarke ____________ Ham = Lionel Hampton Mel Butler = Milt Buckner T-Bone Walk = T-Bone Walker Rum Porgy = Rhumboogie Errol Brado = ?? Persian Ballroom = Pershing Ballroom? Jimmie Lundsford = Jimmy Lunceford Amhad Jamal = Ahmad Jamal Arnet Carlson = Arnett Cobb ?? Matt Green = Matthew Gee ?? Dizzy Gillepsie = Dizzy Gillespie Harriman's Special = Airmail Special Joe Morrison = Joe Morris Matthew G. = Matthew Gee Jimmy Ryan = ?? Gene Allis = Gene Ammons King Colax = King Kolax Tineakly = ?? Mack Schroats = Max Roach E. G. Sumamon = = Idrees Sulieman (thanks to King Ubu) Shahib Shahaab = Sahib Shihab Leroy Wright = Leo Wright Neal _____, Kenny Peterson = Nils Henning Orsted Petersen Sonny Rowlings = Sonny Rollins Andre Previne = Andre Previn Lou Smith = Louis Smith Gene Hammis = Gene Ammons Quote
JSngry Posted February 5, 2010 Report Posted February 5, 2010 Oscar Predator probably = Oscar Pettiford Quote
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