Part of the Blue Note 80 vinyl reissue series, celebrating Blue Note’s 80th Anniversary in 2019, Introducing Johnny Griffin is mastered from original analogue sources and pressed on 180g vinyl. Tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin blew out of Chicago and made his debut album for Blue Note Records in 1956, steering a nimble quartet with pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Max Roach through a fantastic set of originals and standards. From the blistering opener “Mil Dew” to the loping “Chicago Calling” and bluesy “Nice and Easy” Griffin’s staggering technical ability and buoyant swing is readily apparent at every twist and turn.
