Born: 1939 Primary Instrument: Trombone
Dick Griffin (b. James Richard Griffin in Jackson, Mississippi, 1939) is an American trombonist known for his work in free jazz, especially with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Charles Mingus. As a child he studied piano, soon switching to trombone, which he was later to achieve a Master's degree in.
After earning his bachelor's degree in 1963, Griffin began teaching high school while working on his Masters. Griffin is most known for his technique of circular phonics, combining multiphonics with circular breathing. Later in life, Griffin became an accomplished painter, with showings in New York and Europe.
Dick has recorded with Charles Mingus, Sun Ra, Stanley Cowell, Charles Tolliver, Sam Rivers, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Cecil McBee, Freddie Waits, George Benson, Jack McDuff, Abdullah Ibrahim, William Parker, Archie Shepp, and Marvin Gaye.[3] In addition, he has performed with many others, including Eddie Gale, Duke Ellington, Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Harry Belafonte, Equal Time, and Sam Cooke, as well as recording several albums as a leader.
Primary Instrument:
Trombone
