Johnny Griffin
Tenor Sax Solo on
Mil Dew

About

Johnny Griffin's tenor sax solo is the opening of 2 solos on this recording, before Wynton Kelly's closing piano statement. Spanning four choruses of the 32-bar AABA form at a brisk 323 BPM with a swing feel in B♭, the solo runs approximately 1:39. The composition is a contrafact based on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm." This track is a defining statement of Griffin's virtuosity, showcasing the raw speed and creative energy that made him a formidable presence on the New York hard bop scene of the mid-1950s. Johnny Griffin was 27 to 28 years old at the time of this 1956 recording.

Johnny Griffin was 27 to 28 years old at the time.