The Little Giant
Encyclopedia
The Little Giant is an album by jazz
saxophonist Johnny Griffin
and his all-star sextet, released on the Riverside
label in 1959. It was Griffin's third album on Riverside.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
and his all-star sextet, released on the Riverside
Riverside Records
Riverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade...
label in 1959. It was Griffin's third album on Riverside.
Track listing
- "Olive Refractions" (Norman SimmonsNorman Simmons (musician)Norman Simmons is an American arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who has worked extensively with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, and Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams among others.-Biography:...
) - 4:17 - "The Message" (Simmons) - 7:24
- "Lonely One" (Babs GonzalesBabs GonzalesBabs Gonzales , born Lee Brown, was an American jazz vocalist of the bebop era most notable for penning the song "Oop-Pop-A-Da", which was originally recorded and performed by his own band and was later made famous by Dizzy Gillespie . Babs was also once the chauffeur for Errol Flynn...
) 4:09 - "63rd Street Theme" (Griffin) - 7:35
- "Playmates" (Saxie DowellSaxie DowellHorace Kirby "Saxie" Dowell was an American jazz and pop music bandleader and singer and songwriter.Dowell was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill where he met Hal Kemp. He joined Kemp's orchestra as a reed player and vocalist in the fall of...
) - 4:19 - "Venus and the Moon" (Simmons) - 6:32
Personnel
- Johnny GriffinJohnny GriffinJohn Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
— tenor saxophone - Wynton KellyWynton KellyWynton Kelly was a Jamaican-born jazz pianist, who spent his career in the United States. He is perhaps best known for working with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1959-1962.-Biography:...
— piano - Blue MitchellBlue MitchellRichard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
— trumpet - Julian PriesterJulian PriesterJulian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
— trombone - Sam Jones — bass
- Albert Heath — drums