Johnny Griffin
Tenor Sax Solo on
'Round Midnight

About

Johnny Griffin's tenor saxophone solo is the second of two improvisations on this recording, following Monk's piano. Taking one chorus of the 32-bar AABA form in E-flat at a ballad tempo of 68 BPM, Griffin brings a surprisingly tender approach to one of jazz's most celebrated compositions. His tone is warm and his phrasing spacious, a marked departure from the fiery, rapid-fire style that characterizes his up-tempo playing elsewhere on the album. The ballad context draws out a lyrical, reflective side of Griffin's artistry.

Johnny Griffin was 29 to 30 years old at the time.