Steve
Griggs - Reviews
Steve
Griggs Plays Serious Original Jazz
by Jon Poses
Columbia Daily Tribune,
Columbia, Mo., Sunday, December 15, 1985
Saxophonist Steve
Griggs has learned his trade well. The New York City native moved to
Champaign-Urbana, Ill., to study and receive a music degree, which he
accomplished two years ago. In the process, he formed a quartet with
fellow Illini: pianist Michael Kocour, bassist Daniel Anderson and drummer/percussionist
Jeff Stitely.
The foursome, with
occasional help from bassist Karen Korsmeyer, another Illini, has produced
an album-length cassette comprised of six Griggs originals. the group,
touring mostly the Midwest, received praise for its presentation of
straight-ahead, though mid-1960’s, "Loft Scene"-influenced jazz.
Not surprisingly,
Griggs lists a Sam Rivers composition in his live repertoire. At the
time, Rivers was one of the main proponents of the displaced loft scene,
based in lower Manhattan.
It is quite logical
that in 1984, Griggs, with group intact, returned to New York where
he and the others are attempting to crack the Big Apple jazz scene.
If they do, I won’t be surprised.
This is a solid
acoustic group that is obviously serious about what they play and how
they present it. While not exceptional, Griggs’ compositions are legitimate
jazz offerings. Particularly strong throughout the album are Kocour’s
piano solos as well as Grigg’s tenor work. Stitely’s drum work is professional;
the same can be said for Anderson and Korsmeyer on bass.
Judging from his
performance on "Five in the Sky," Griggs is a strong, highly skilled
instumentalist who, stylistically, draws from the likes of Joe Henderson,
John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. In his brief career, Griggs has shared
the stage with such veteran tenor men as Arnett Cobb, Von Freeman and
Dave Liebman.
I assume his composition,
"Pharoah’s Dance," is named after yet another saxophonist, longtime
Coltrane disciple Pharoah Sanders. In that piece, Griggs employs the
hard-edged percussive and sometimes free-floating sound of Coltrane
or Sanders, incorporating the familiar angularly shaped solos.
The powerful sound
is also heard during "Urban Blight," which gives us a change to hear
Griggs on soprano sax. Griggs’ soprano skills are not nearly as refined
as his tenor work; at times, he sounds somewhat tentative on the upper-register
reed instrument.
"Media Man," the
only other piece in which Griggs plays soprano, might be the session’s
weakest offering. Still, on both compositions, his soprano playing should
hold listener’s attention; any shortcomings are minimized by other players.
Undoubtedly, Kocour’s best piano work comes during "Urban Blight."
The saxophonist includes two more composition of note. In "Doringo,"
we hear a softer Griggs who sounds almost Stan Getz-like. The ballad’s
tone might be likened to John Klemmer’s best work, before that saxophonist
drowned us with his complacency.
Finally, Griggs
and his quartet present "The Loneliest Monk." The reference, if not
the relationship between the title and the subject’s first name, is
clear. Kocour’s intentionally vague Monkish improv works well. The seven-minute
cut could be the album’s most pleasing and is definitely the easiest
to absorb. Melodic, tightly structured, it sounds as though it could
have appeared in Blue Note Records’ classic early 19-60’s catalog.
Griggs writing deserves
recognition for its diversity, the set for its pacing. "Five in The
Sky" is a solid, no-nonsense debut that is well-recorded and definitely
worth the postage.