Personnel:

Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Johnny Griffin (ts), Junior Mance (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d)

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 performancesoriginally issued on four Riverside albumsare gathered together on CD for the first time.

TRACKLIST:

CD 1

01. Light and Lovely

02. Straight No Chaser

03. Woodyn You

04. Bingo Domingo

05. Ill Remember April

06. Billies Bounce

07. Epistrophy

08. Well You Neednt

CD 2

01. In Walked Bud

02. Land of Dreams

03. Bean-O

04. Robbins Nest

05. Our Delight

06. Dee Dees Dance

07. Epistrophy [Alternate Version]

08. Billies Bounce [Alternate Version]

09. The Theme

Original sources:

CD 1, tracks #1-5, from the album "The Tenor Scene" (Prestige PR7191)

CD 1, tracks #6-8, from the album "The First Set" (Prestige PR7309)

CD 2, tracks #1-5 & 9, from the album "The Midnight Show - Live!" (PR7330)

CD 2, tracks #6-8, from the album "The Late Show" (Prestige PR7357)

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

Original recordings produced by Esmond Edwards

Recording engineer: Rudy Van Gelder

Cover photo: Esmond Edwards

This compilation produced by Jordi Pujol

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered