1957 · Album
A Blowin' Session
Recorded April 1957 · Blue Note Records · Released: September or October 1957
Griffin in April: A Session in Full Flight
Griffin and his crew simply play, hard and clean, with no pretense or safety net.
Johnny Griffin recorded Johnny Griffin, Vol. 2 (1957) in April 1957, and it came out on Blue Note Records a few months later as A Blowing Session (1957)—a title that describes exactly what you hear. This is Griffin early in his career, before he became known for his tenure with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, playing tenor saxophone in a straightforward blowing session with a small group. No concept, no gimmick, just players in a room making music.
What makes this album worth hearing is Griffin's tone and his directness. He's a fast player—genuinely fast—but not in a show-off way. His lines have shape and logic even when they're running. He swings hard and lands his ideas clearly. The session has an easy, confident feel, the kind you get when musicians know each other and aren't overthinking anything. AllMusic gave it a perfect five stars, which is rare praise and honestly earned here. This isn't a deep album in the sense of having a concept or a philosophical weight. It's just a very good example of what a blowing session could be when the players had chops and ears.
If you're new to Griffin, this is a solid place to start—not his most famous work, but representative and immediately likeable. It sits somewhere between a casual jam and a proper studio date, which is partly why it holds up. There's no filler and no reaching for significance. It's the sound of a musician with something to say and the ability to say it directly.
Who's playing
Paul Chambersdouble bass
Wynton Kellypiano
John Coltranetenor saxophone
Johnny Griffintenor saxophone
Hank Mobleytenor saxophone
Lee Morgantrumpet
Art Blakeydrums
Where next?
More by Johnny Griffin
Introducing Johnny Griffin 1956
Thelonious in Action 1961
The Congregation 1958
Johnny Griffin Sextet 1958
The musicians on this record
Giant Steps 1960
John Coltrane
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
A Night in Tunisia 1960
Art Blakey
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
Kelly Blue 1959
Wynton Kelly
plays piano here
plays piano here
Candy 1957
Lee Morgan
plays trumpet here
plays trumpet here
