Johnny Griffin & NDR Big Band - Hamburg 1992 (MP2)

Here's another show by the Little Giant, one of my all-time tenor favourites. I shared a 1969 show of his here (in MP3 from lossless) a while ago, which should still be active, find it here and note that the correct date is May 16, NOT May 21:

http://ubu-space.blogspot.com/2008/01/johnny-griffin-live-in-1969-on-dime-and.html

Griffin still is around, though he likes a drink too much, it seems... I once had a chance to see him live, with the great Martial Solal and the late great NHOP. That was a notable and sad event at the same time, as Griff was tired and uninspired, Solal noodling away displaying way too much of his technique (which is of course brilliant and awesome, of course - but it ought to be but a means to do something else). One thing I fondly remember though is a terrific bass solo by NHOP during an earthy twelve bar blues - the highlight of a weird night.

Anyway, Griffin is in better form here, and even though the musicians with him might be unfamiliar to most of you, let me assure you they're great! The NDR Big Band is associated with German radio station NDR and has done a lot of astonishing projects. It consists of some of the best musicians currently active on the German scene. The same is true of Griff's partners on the small group tracks.

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Johnny Griffin & NDR Big Band - Listen To The Cat
Hamburg (Germany), Studio 10, NDR
September 18, 1992 (MP2)

Johnny Griffin - tenor sax

with:

NDR Big Band (#1,2,4,6,7)
Dieter Glawischnig - conductor

Quintet (#3,5)
Roman Schwaller - tenor sax
Roberto DiGioia - piano
Lucas Lindholm - bass
Age Tangaard - drums

1. You've Never Been There (5:55)
2. The Cat (6:01)
3. Love Someone You Like (9:49)
4. From Here To There (4:21)
5. Take Me By The Hand (10:39)
6. The Way It Is (7:57)
7. The JAMFS Are Coming (2:25) [inc]

TT: 47:07

source: DVB-S@320, 48kHz > raw data > ProjextX > mp3DirectCut > mp2 
(lossy recording seeded in its original broadcast codec)