The confident, hard bopping and muscular yet lyrical tenor sax played by the likes of Johnny Griffen, as recorded here from a 1992 gig in Valencia, Spain, is something that we unfortunately may never hear again in person. Thank the good Lord for labels like Storyvill to remind us of a day when giants roamed the earth.
Griffin is teamed with Herve Sellin/p, Reggie Johnson/b and Doug Sides/dr for a collection of tunes that also reflect another era. Having played with Thelonious Monk, there is plenty of Spherical ideas to choose from, as he stretches out on a glorious “Monk’s Dream” and bops with delight on “Rhythm-A-Ning”. Best of all is a blues medley that has “Blue Monk” and Duke Ellington’s “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” sound like kissing cousins, while Griffin gives an aria on “Sophisticated Lady”. Griffin’s own “The Cat” sizzles with Sellin, and “Just Friends” shows that muscle and melody and not incompatible. Where did we make a wrong turn?