Johnny Griffin 1928 - 2008

Johnny Griffen Died on the 27th of July in his home in the French country side at the age of 80.

“I like to play fast. I get excited, and I have to sort of control myself, restrain myself. But when the rhythm section gets cooking, I want to explode.” Johnny Griffin.

The critic Ralph J Gleason once said about him

Unquestionably Johnny Griffin can play the tenor saxophone faster, literally, than anyone else alive. At least he can claim this until it’s demonstrated otherwise. And in the course of playing with this incredible speed, he also manages to blow longer without refueling than you would ordinarily consider possible. With this equipment he is able to play almost all there could possibly be played in any give chorus.”

Although fast and furious may have been one of the things that set him apart from other musicians, he was capable and good at dealing with any material.
He started his professional Jazz career at 15 when he Joined Lionel Hampton’s band and by the time he left the States for France at the age of 34 he already had accomplished more than most Jazz musicians do in a life time.
Since his arrival in France in 1962 he gave free lessons on the gentle arts of relaxation, saxophone technique and other things to thousands of Jazz appreciators.

this is what Howard Mandel says about him

They called him the Little Giant — from my lofty 5′ 7″ I looked down on him a couple irrelevant inches but up to him in all the ways that matter, between listener and musician. Griffin had a huge, fast, craggy and crafty style, produced by nimble fingers, enormous reserves of breath, swaggering phraseology and overall control. He was a consumate professional.

He left a huge legacy for us and for future generations of jazz lovers, A Giant indeed.