About
Johnny Griffin's tenor saxophone solo is the first of two improvisations on this live recording from the Five Spot Cafe. Taking two choruses of the 32-bar AABA form in B-flat at 146 BPM, Griffin brings the speed and intensity that earned him his reputation as one of the most exciting tenor saxophonists of the era. His rapid-fire lines navigate Monk's whimsical composition with characteristic fire, the angular melodic contours of the tune providing a framework that suits Griffin's aggressive approach.
Johnny Griffin was 29 to 30 years old at the time.
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