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Dick Griffin

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.

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Album Review

Clifford Jordan: Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow

Read "Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Clifford Jordan, the iconic American jazz tenor saxophonist, has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Known for his dynamic playing style and innovative compositions, his album Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow is a testament to his unparalleled musical prowess. The original album was recorded in 1974 for Strata-East as an LP but did not make it to the catalogue during this period. However, his wife, Sandy Jordan, unearthed this gem, which was remastered for presentation in ...

4
Album Review

Clifford Jordan: Drink Plenty Water

Read "Drink Plenty Water" reviewed by Dave Linn


In August 1974, Clifford Jordan entered the studio for what was to be the follow-up to his acclaimed 2-LP set, Glass Bead Games (1973) for his third album on the Strata-East label. Sadly, the label folded in 1975, and the album was never released. Now, 49 years later, Drink Plenty Water, has finally seen the light of day. It is a time capsule of that collaborative era when jazz stretched its boundaries. It features an all-star roster with a front ...

3
Album Review

Clint Bahr: Puzzlebox

Read "Puzzlebox" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Puzzlebox is precisely that: A hard-cover box of musical curios arranged around an 11-minute improvisation ("As Tympani Melt in the Greek Heat") performed not by a band but by a rotating caravan of progressive jazz and rock musicians organized by multi-instrumentalist and composer Clint Bahr. Bahr's collaborators in this curious collection include pianist Marilyn Crispell, violinist David Cross, the late Yes guitarist Peter Banks and other musicians who have performed with artists as far-ranging as Sun Ra and Rahsaan Roland ...

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Album Review

Dick Griffin: Time Will Tell

Read "Time Will Tell" reviewed by William Carey


This set of eight original tunes, all penned by trombonist/leader Dick Griffin is a testament to the old KISS adage: keep it simple, stupid. Get some good players together, write some straightforward melodies, and blow, and Griffin has assembled some good players “Could It Be the Blues" strikes the perfect mood to open this record. Few instruments lend themselves to a blues as well as a trombone. Naturally plaintive, in the hands of a player like Griffin, ...

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Album Review

Charles Earland: Intensity

Read "Intensity" reviewed by AAJ Staff


You hear it at once: a different sound, not always for the better. The music was changing, and Charles Earland joined his easy groove to the lush CTI sound so popular at the time. Results vary: the Burner is hot but too many horns spoil the brew. Take “Goin' Home": a rock guitar crashes through the left speaker, and Charles steps coolly behind him. Now he works the chords for warm strength: the feel of his Black Talk! album. But ...

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Album Review

Charles Earland: Intensity

Read "Intensity" reviewed by Douglas Payne


For 1972's Intensity, Charles Earland's fifth of ten Prestige discs, the Mighty Burner seemed to be aiming toward something a little different than his usual collection of soulful tenor-organ jams. The presence of two songs from the rock group Chicago and a small trumpet-dominated horn section indicate that jazz-rock was the goal. The result, the LP's four original tracks plus two tracks from the same date originally released as part of Charles III, is one of his very best.

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Festival

Vision Festival 16 - June 9: An Evening of Special Projects

Vision Festival 16 - June 9: An Evening of Special Projects

Source: Chris Rich

The special project nights embody the epitome of the festival and the most striking contrast with the pre packaged, off the shelf bloat fests. And the events are thoughtfully timed to allow for movement between performances in the Main Stage and the Downstairs Theater, where the evening begins with the final panel discussion looking to education with seasoned and innovative practitioners applying their combined lore and experience. 5:00PM to 7:00PM Innovative Music in Education Tom Zlabinger, Daniel Levin, Nicole Federici, ...

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Video / DVD

Dick Griffin Interview - Mingus & the Sun Ra Experience

Dick Griffin Interview - Mingus & the Sun Ra Experience

Source: All About Jazz

The good side of Charles Mingus. Dick Griffin - The Sun Ra experience. This interview is part of the book project “under your skin" which will include Interviews with: Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Zap Mama, Chuck D / Public enemy, Les Nubians, Taj Mahal, Yusef Lateef, Dj Vadim, Bob James, Living Colour, Dj Rob ...

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Event

Daniel Carter, Dick Griffin, Hungry March Band & More in a Fundraiser for Nietzsche Circle, NYC

Daniel Carter, Dick Griffin, Hungry March Band & More in a Fundraiser for Nietzsche Circle, NYC

Source: All About Jazz

REVEL, CELEBRATE, GATHER WITH US this Friday, February 16th from 7:30 PM to Midnight for a FESTIVE, DIONYSIAN NIGHT OF LIVE MUSIC, SPIRITS (the liquid kind) and Italian, Turkish, Greek and other delicacies. The evening will feature live performances by DANIEL CARTER (alumnus of Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Thurston Moore, Denis Charles, etc) featuring his project GHOST MOTH ...

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Performance / Tour

Trumpeter Eddie Gale & trombonist Dick Griffin bring avant-garde sounds to New England

Trumpeter Eddie Gale & trombonist Dick Griffin bring avant-garde sounds to New England

Source: Avant Coast

Eddie Gale & Dick Griffin with Equal Time - Two Shows in Maine!

Monday, October 2nd - 7:30pm Railroad Square Cinema 17 Railroad Square Waterville, ME $10 admission at door

Tuesday, October 3rd - 7:30pm Studio AC at the Wentworth-Dennett School 78 Government Street Kittery, ME 03904 $10 admission at door

For more information: www.avantcoast.com [email protected] ...

Primary Instrument

Trombone

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Drink Plenty Water

Harvest Song Records
2023

buy

Drink Plenty Water...

Harvest Song Records
2023

buy

Puzzlebox

MoonJune Records
2022

buy

Time Will Tell

Ruby Records
2011

buy

A Dream for Rashaan

Self Produced
2003

buy

The Eighth Wonder &...

Reference Recordings
1994

buy

Mind Over

From: Time Will Tell
By Dick Griffin

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