Biography
John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin began his career in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of his death. A pioneering figure in hard bop, Griffin recorded prolifically as a bandleader in addition to stints with the pianist Thelonious Monk and the drummer Art Blakey, in partnership with his fellow tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and as a member of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band after he moved to Europe in the 1960s. In 1995, Griffin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
Bio from Wikipedia
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.
A Blowing Session
1957
Chet Baker In New York
1958
Introducing Johnny Griffin
1957
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers With Thelonious Monk
1958
Full House
1962
Misterioso
1958
A Night In Tunisia
1958
Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974
1985
The Paris Session
1975
That's The Way I Feel Now - A Tribute To Thelonious Monk
1984
Great Encounters
1979
Blowin' Sessions
1975
Blues For Harvey
1973
Invitation To Openness
1972
The Soul Of Jazz - 1961
1961
Kenya (Afro Cuban Jazz)
1958
Hot And Soul
1989
The 1950's -The Singers
1987
Call It Whachawana
1983
Return Of The Griffin
1979
The Giant
1975
Jam Session At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1975
1975
Solitude Part 2
1973
Latin Kaleidoscope
1969
Credited work
2,408 releases · 348 albums · active 1950–2026
- Performance · 3,846
- Other credits · 248
- Production · 34
Studios: Five Spot Café · Plaza Sound Studios · Reeves Sound Studios · Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Frequent collaborators
- Various
- Thelonious Monk
- Wes Montgomery
- Bud Powell
- Johnny Griffin Quartet
- "Eddie ""Lockjaw"" Davis"
- The Kenny Clarke Francy Boland Big Band
- The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band