Personnel:
Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Johnny Griffin (ts), Junior Mance (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d)
Reference: FSRCD 680
Bar code: 8427328606806
The exciting music presented in this set was recorded live at the historic Mintons Playhouse in New York, on the night of January 6, 1961, by the fiery quintet co-lead by Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Johnny Griffin. It epitomises the kind of hearty, full-blowing jazz associated with this partnership of contrasting tenor styles.
Davis was always clear about their partnership. It was never that jazz cliché, a tenor battle, he insisted. "No, its not really a battle at all. What we are doing is presenting, side by side, two different styles of playing tenora contrast, not a contest. The idea is to stimulate creation, not hinder it.
Like other in-person dates, this one brings to the listener all the joie de vivre of these visceral swingers, Lock and Griff, as they compellingly surf a well integrated rhythm section, enhanced by the lucid, soulful piano of Junior Mance. Over its strong, relentless pulse the two tenors perform with the take-no-prisoners urgency that characterized the team in its finest hours.
Now, these great performances originally issued on four Riverside albums are gathered together on CD for the first time.
Note: The Same take of "I'll Remember April" (CD 1, track 5) was issued on two Prestige albums, 7191 & 7309. The same goes for "Light and lovely" (CD 1, track 1) issued on 7191 & 7357
