Why Not? – Johnny Griffin

This Johnny Griffin piece is brought to life by its fantastically complex counterline, available on all second part editions.

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Recording: Johnny Griffin - Change Of Pace
Recorded on: February 7, 1961
Label: Riverside (RLP 368)
Concert Key: F minor
Vocal Range: , to
Style: Swing (medium up)

Tenor Sax - Johnny Griffin
French Horn - Julius Watkins
Bass - Bill Lee & Larry Gales
Drums - Ben Riley

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Johnny Griffin - Why Not?

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Our audio excerpt starts with Johnny Griffin playing the melody. This is preceded on the recording by a ten-measure intro, where Julius Watkins (on French Horn) has a high harmony part above the melody. The French Horn, especially in the hands of master Julius Watkins, has a large range, and Johnny gave Julius some great counter lines. We make this second part available for French Horn, and well as B-flat, E-flat and C bass clef. The AABBC form incorporates both 2-feel and 4-feel, and it's great fun to play. The introduction is notated on all parts.

We added this title to jazzleadsheets.com to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the recording session, which was certainly a sonic "Change Of Pace." The first session was a quartet (tenor sax, 2 basses, drums). jazzleadsheets.com already has one title from that session: Same To You. For this second session Johnny added the incredible French Horn player Julius Watkins. Johnny must have had this unusual sound in mind when he arranged the music: the bowed string bass takes the place of, and sounds like, a low horn. Combined with the French Horn, it creates a chamber music-like vibe.

Johnny Griffin

April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008

A tenor saxophonist of amazing energy and invention, Griffin was influenced by such revered artists as Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker and Ben Webster. He was first heard prominently in his youth with Lionel Hampton's orchestra from 1945-47, making his first recording with Hamp when he was only 17 years old. In 1947, Griffin joined Joe Morris's rhythm & blues group. Morris (trumpet) had also been a recording member of Hamp's bands since 1943. He left Hamp a little before Johnny did. By 1948 the Morris band had changed personnel to include Elmo Hope (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums) along with Matthew Gee on trombone. Read more...

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Why Not? – Johnny Griffin

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