INFO:Source: WEBRip
Video compression mode: [MKV,1080p][H.264,AC3]
Size MB: 1080
Total Run Time mn. 62:10
From the series “The Jazz Life, Volume 1”, produced by pianist/singer Ben Sidran, comes these performances by two renowned jazz artists at the world famous jazz club, the Village Vanguard, located at the corner of 7th and 11th in Greenwich Village, NYC. It begins with a session by the "Little Giant” of the tenor saxophone, Johnny Griffin, and his quartet. This is followed by a performance by the Richie Cole Quintet on a separate date. The Vanguard has been one of the most famous jazz clubs in the world in terms of its history, the many performances there by the ‘best of the best’ in jazz, and the treasured live recordings. This reviewer has been there on many Saturday nights, Sunday afternoons, and Monday nights over 3 decades. The Cole quintet appearance appears to be on a Sunday afternoon from Cole’s comments.
The Griffin quartet includes the resourceful Kenny Washington on drums, Ray Drummond’s solid contrabass work, and the remarkable Ronnie Mathews on piano (mistakenly identified in ‘closed captioning’ as “Lonnie”). The video begins in the middle of a blazing uptempo Mathews piano solo, as the film shows exterior street scenes and the prominent awning over the entrance to this famous basement jazz club. The song is a blazing uptempo tribute to Babs Gonzalez, “Blues for Gonzie”, that gives way to Griffin’s inventive and humorous solo which is loaded with ‘quotes’ from “Dixie” to “Rhapsody in Blue”, showing his circular breathing prowess in the process, and ending with a furious sax-drum exchange. “A Monk’s Dream” has a marvelous solo piano intro by Mathews and a powerful solo from Griffin that includes a “Swinging on a Star” quote, with the entire performance receiving a loud ovation from the audience.
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