Johnny Griffin - Live in Helsingborg 1990 Johnny Griffin

In July 1990, Johnny Griffin, the legendary tenor saxophonist known as The Little Giant, electrified Langvinkeln Jazz Club in Helsingborg, Sweden. Accompanied by Danish musicians Thomas Clausen (piano), Mads Vinding (bass), and Svend-Erik Norregard (drums), Griffin delivered a joyful night of jazz as only he could do it, which is now presented here on this previously unreleased 6- track live recording. Griffin, who rose to prominence in the 1950s through his work with Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, and his own explosive small groups, was widely regarded as one of the fastest and most inventive tenor saxophonists in jazz. Playing a lot at Jazzhus Montmartre in the '60s, he settled in France but continued to be in high demand in Scandinavia and all over Europe.

This release continues Storyville Records ' longstanding tradition of documenting major American jazz artists during their European years. Bassist Mads Vinding, a longtime collaborator, recalls the experience: "Johnny Griffin - no one sounded like him. The sound, the ideas, the power, the timing, the energy, the sensitivity, the stamina...He made the whole band sound like one unit..It was very intense and such a joy playing with him, as you can hear on this live recording from 1990. No safety net, no restrictions - just the pure pleasure of playing together, inventing things on the fly." Jazz historian Jan Olsson adds: "Johnny Griffin was a great and highly individual soloist. And I still remember from this extraordinary evening that we could hardly stop him from playing when it was time to close and say goodbye. The main reason was that he had been playing with one of the finest trios you could find in Europe at that time."

The album features expansive performances that stretch familiar standards and Griffin originals into thrilling, unpredictable territory.