In February 1963 tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin made his first UK appearance at Ronnie Scott's Club in London's Gerrard Street, where he played a four-week engagement, accompanied by Stan Tracey on piano. Forty five years later, on May 26th and 27th 2008, the Little Giant was back in Ronnie's to play a couple of evening sessions in a belated celebration of his 80th birthday. He was accompanied by trumpeter Roy Hargrove, James Pearson or David Newton on piano, bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Billy Cobham. Sadly, that engagement proved to be Johnny Griffin's last UK appearance. He died just two months later at his home in France.
In + Out Records had the good fortune to record those sessions and the resulting album captures the veteran saxophonist in top form.
Personnel: Johnny Griffin (tenor saxophone), Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn), David Newton (piano), James Pearson (piano, track 1), Paul Kuhn (piano, vocals track 5), Reggie Johnson (bass), Billy Cobham (drums)
