Johnny Griffin: April 24, 1928 - July 25, 2008

July 25, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: arts music, blank title, coleman hawkins, hard bop, injustice, jazz musician, johnny griffin, little giant, Masters, muscular sound, News, no doubt, Notes, ny times, nytimes, obit, rhythm and blues, rough and tumble, saxophone, saxophonist, stature, target, wails

WBGO bids farewell to Johnny Griffin, a master jazz musician. Many jazz people referred to Griffin as "The Little Giant," no doubt because of his dimunitive stature (he was a shade below 5 and a half feet tall). The consensus, however, was that Griffin's true stature loomed large in the music. Johnny Griffin could easily fall under the category of "hard bop saxophonist," but to do so would be an injustice. When you listen to the raw muscular sound of early Johnny Griffin records, you can hear a combination of saxophone legend Coleman Hawkins, the rough-and-tumble rhythm and blues of Griffin's Chicago hometown, and some definitive gospel wails. It was a big, combustible sound. One that will be missed.

Read the New York Times obit.

If you're looking for good music from Griffin, you have plenty of options.
Some suggestions after the jump.
Read more

© 2008 WBGO

Share |
FIJM Interview: McCoy Tyner

July 3, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: afternoon jazz, FIJM, good time, international jazz festival, Interviews, Masters, mccoy tyner, michael bourne, montreal international jazz festival

Any time McCoy Tyner drops by is a good time. He visited Afternoon Jazz today, as we broadcast live from the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Listen to McCoy Tyner with Michael Bourne.

© 2008 WBGO

Share |
2009 NEA Jazz Masters Announced

June 3, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: Jazz Alive, Masters, News, Notes

The National Endowment for the Arts today announced the recipients of the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters Award-the nation's highest honor in this distinctly American music. The six recipients will each receive a $25,000 grant award, and will be publicly honored in an awards ceremony and concert on Friday, October 17, 2008.
The six 2009 NEA Jazz Masters are:
George Benson (vocalist/guitar)
Jimmy Cobb (drums)
Lee Konitz (saxophone)
Toots Thielemans (harmonica and guitar)
Snooky Young (trumpet)
Rudy Van Gelder (rec. engineer)

© 2008 WBGO

Share |

Bookmark & Share

RSS Feed

The easiest and most convenient way to catch up with the latest blog posts is to subscribe to WBGO's Blog RSS Feed.

Get the WBGO Blog Feed

Discover WBGO

RADAR: Terence Blanchard's MAGNETIC

Hear Terence Blanchard's MAGNETIC now - exclusively on WBGO more
Montreal Jazz Festival Trip

WBGO Travel invites you to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Montreal Jazz Festival, June 30 -... more
SportsJam with Doug Doyle

Host Doug Doyle talks to Veteran Boxing Referee Eddie Cotton. more
Allan Wolper talks with community activist Julie Menin

Julie Menin, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Borough President of Manhattan, is... more
Volunteer for WBGO!

Volunteers are very important to WBGO's existence. We welcome you to become involved in our... more
Newark Today with guest Mayor Cory Booker

The next Newark Today is on Thursday, May 23, at 8pm. more
Two Decades of JazzSet

See and hear highlights from WBGO’s national series, JazzSet from NPR Music more
Free WBGO Mobile app

Click here to download the free WBGO app for iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android phones. more
WBGO HD2 - the jazz bee

WBGO's new showcase for emerging jazz artists and styles. Hear it at 88.3 HD2 and online now. more
Midday Jazz with Rhonda Hamilton Weekdays 10am - 2pm

Rhonda gives you the great music you need to get through the day, and she does it in her own... more
Morning Jazz with Gary Walker Weekdays 6 - 10am

Gary Walker helps you start your day each weekday morning. Join Gary and Morning News Anchor... more
Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez

Classic & contemporary soul, R&B, funk, blues, salsa/bugalu, Afro-soul and rock 'n... more
Afternoon Jazz with Michael Bourne Weekdays 2 - 6:30pm

Music host Michael Bourne bops in at 2pm, then strikes a chord with the Blues Hour each day at... more
The Checkout

An hour-long music magazine hosted by Josh Jackson features what's new on the New York jazz... more
Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey

Each Sunday from 7-11pm, tune into WBGO to hear Sunday Night Music Mix with Eulis Cathey.... more
The WBGO Blog: Dr. Lewis Porter profiles

Visit the WBGO Blog for Dr. Lewis Porter's series "You Don't Know Jazz," to learn little known... more
Page 1 of 6
Show more