The Best of Johnny Griffin

Nick Phillips compiled this chronologically arranged nine-track overview of the career of "The Little Giant," Johnny Griffin, as a leader and as a sideman for the Riverside, Jazzland, Prestige, and Galaxy catalogs. The recording dates mainly range from 1958-1962, though the final track, a lovely version of "Autumn Leaves," comes from a 1978 session. There is only one original on the set, the wonderful "63rd Street Theme" from the album The Little Giant, in 1959. Other albums represented here are Way Out!, The Little Giant, Johnny Griffin Sextet, Tough Tenors, and The Tenor Scene with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Thelonious Monk's Thelonious in Action, the great Big Soul Band session from 1960, Wes Montgomery's Full House, and Return of the Griffin from 1978. The highlights of the set include the big band's version of "Wade in the Water," the blazing version of "Cherokee," and the reading of Lester Young's "Tickle Toe." Other highlights — though non-musical ones — are the insightful and engaging — as well as authoritative — liner notes by author and critic Ashley Khan.