Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis & Johnny Griffin Quintet - "Live" at Minton's Playhouse in New York City: Complete Recordings / 2CD set

The exciting music presented in this set was recorded live at the historic Mintons Playhouse in New York, on the night of January 6, 1961, by the fiery quintet co-lead by Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Johnny Griffin. It epitomises the kind of hearty, full-blowing jazz associated with this partnership of contrasting tenor styles.

Davis was always clear about their partnership. It was never that jazz cliché, a tenor battle, he insisted. "No, its not really a battle at all. What we are doing is presenting, side by side, two different styles of playing tenora contrast, not a contest. The idea is to stimulate creation, not hinder it.

Like other in-person dates, this one brings to the listener all the joie de vivre of these visceral swingers, Lock and Griff, as they compellingly surf a well integrated rhythm section, enhanced by the lucid, soulful piano of Junior Mance. Over its strong, relentless pulse the two tenors perform with the take-no-prisoners urgency that characterized the team in its finest hours.

Now, these great performances originally issued on four Riverside albums are gathered together on CD for the first time.

CD 1
1. Light and Lovely
2. Straight No Chaser
3. Woodyn You
4. Bingo Domingo
5. Ill Remember April
6. Billies Bounce
7. Epistrophy
8. Well You Neednt

CD 2
1. In Walked Bud
2. Land of Dreams
3. Bean-O
4. Robbin's Nest
5. Our Delight
6. Dee Dees Dance
7. Epistrophy [Alternate Version]
8. Billies Bounce [Alternate Version]
9. The Theme
Album details
Original sources:
CD 1, tracks #1-5, from the album "The Tenor Scene"
CD 1, tracks #6-8, from the album "The First Set"
CD 2, tracks #1-5 & 9, from the album "The Midnight Show - Live!"
CD 2, tracks #6-8, from the album "The Late Show"

Personnel:
EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS & JOHNNY GRIFFIN QUINTET
Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Johnny Griffin (ts), Jr. Mance (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d).
Recorded live at "Mintons Playhouse," New York City, on January 6, 1961