Mil Dew is a bebop composition by tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, and a contrafact based on the chord changes of George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm. Written for Griffin's debut session as a leader, the tune was first recorded on April 17, 1956, at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, and released on the album Introducing Johnny Griffin on Blue Note Records in early 1957. Cast in the standard 32-bar AABA form inherited from its harmonic source, Mil Dew is taken at a blazing up-tempo pace that immediately showcases Griffin's formidable speed and clarity on the tenor saxophone. The melody is built from rapid, intricate bebop lines that weave through the familiar rhythm changes with blues-inflected phrasing and rhythmic inventiveness. Despite the breakneck tempo, the composition maintains melodic coherence and a sense of purposeful construction rather than mere technical display. As the opening track on Griffin's debut album, it served as a bold declaration of his abilities, helping to establish his reputation as one of the fastest and most articulate tenor players of the hard bop era. The tune remains closely associated with its original recording and has not entered the widely performed jazz standard repertoire, functioning instead as an album deep cut that captures the explosive energy of Griffin's early work.
