"It's a good jazz sound, and it rarely sounded better than in the hands and lungs of the two tenor stars who teamed up a couple of years ago and worked hard and well to keep the group alive. Unfortunately, they were forced to go their separate ways in early 1963, due to the economic vagaries of the tight jazz scene. Thus, there is a kind of nostalgia attached to listening to this album, as well as satisfaction in knowing that the group was captured on wax once more before disbanding.
"Lockjaw Davis (b. 1921) was the senior partner in this swinging enterprise. His very individual and distinctive style, rooted in the approach of the Hawkins-Webster school but with a strong bop flavor, blends well with that of Johnny Griffin (born 1928). Both men are what is sometimes called 'hard' players - meaning that they favor a big, strong sound and employ forceful rhythms and expressionistic coloration. There are differences (Johnny tends to play more notes than Lock and employs a smoother tone) but the similarities often outweigh them, and there are times, as when the boys trade 'eights' or 'fours', when it can become quite a game to sort them out. Most importantly, though, Lock and Griff always seem to turn each other on - a fact that is apparent in the music but also supplied special kicks when seeing the group in person.
"A characteristic of the Lockjaw-Griffin partnership was the consistent presence of strong, swinging rhythm sections. The gentlemen on deck here are in that tradition. Others who passed through the ranks included pianists Junior Mance, Horace Parlan and Lloyd Mayers; bassists Gene Ramey and Larry Ridley; and drummer Clifford Jarvis. This album offers a pleasant opportunity to hear Norman Simmons, a very gifted pianist, arranger and accompanyist (he wrote for Griffin's short-lived 'Big Soul Band' and worked with Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae). He is extensively featured here. Bassist Vic Sproles is a solid swinger, and Ben Riley, the group's original drummer, is well-attuned to its needs.
"This is straightforward, free-wheeling, no-nonsense jazz. It will make you tap your foot and shake your head, and at time the shouting and hollering will make you laugh out loud. In a day when preciousness and self-conscious striving for novelty burdens much of modern jazz, it's good to hear this kind of music. It's a kind of jazz that, hopefully, will always be with us. Lock and Griff are back on their own now, but it is certain that both of them have come away from their time of togetherness with a little something of each other that will always stay with them.
"'What's Happening' is an uptempo blowing line, a kind of warmup exercise. The head, played in unison, is brief and things soon settle down to extended blowing. The solo order, as it is throughout, puts Lock on deck first, followed by Simmons and then Griff. There are nice eights and fours at the end.
"'Abundance' used to be announced by the partners as 'A Bun Dance', and it works both ways. It's a soul-type tune with effective use of stop time and real linear interplay between the two horns in the ensemble. Simmons has a particularly good solo spot.
"'If I Had You', the only standard in this set, is taken at a relaxed medium tempo. Lock kicks off with a well-built solo excursion, growing from a restrained opening to some real shouting. Griff gets right up there with him. After Griff's solo, Davis returns with the channel, and then there is a nice conversation on the last eight.
"'63rd Street Theme' is a Latin-flavored minor blues, brought on by a piano-and-rhythm intro. Griffin's solo is one of his best of the set, and the entire performance has unity and form.
"'Pull My Coat' starts with a walking bass intro. The unison theme statement features tasty piano fills. Both tenors dig in on this one, with plenty of 'rapprochement'.
"'Hey Jim!' has a light, springy beat that sets the horns well. It is reminiscent of the kind of line featured by Ammons and Stitt, and there is a happy passage just prior to Lock's solo where the two tenors really boots each other. Griffin's solo has some of those staggering fast runs which have become a trademark of 'the little giant'.
"Take this album home and pull back the rug and shake your buns, or get out some cold beer and settle down to listen. Whatever your pleasure, it will be increased considerably in the company of Lockjaw, Griffin & Co. and their happy, swinging jazz." (Dan Morgenstern, August 1963. From the liner notes.)
Performers: Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (t-sx), Johnny Griffin (t-sx), Norman Simmons (pi), Victor Sproles (bs), Ben Riley (dr)
A1. What's Happening
A2. Abundance
A3. If I Had You
B1. 63rd Street Theme
B2. Pull My Coat
B3. Hey Jim!
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