Steve
Griggs - Reviews
Jones
for Elvin - Volume 1
CD review
by Larry Nai from Cadence Magazine (June 2000)
Saxophonist Steve
Griggs' debut is a powerful set of hard bop, and not only because Elvin
Jones is on drums. Griggs has a big, nuanced tone on his soprano double
- check out "Claudia" - and his tenor work everywhere else is quite
impressive. While he brings a burnished, Coltrane sound to some of his
lines, the range of his ideas suggests the confidence of someone who
has digested a number of influences, and is now content to casually
play his own mind. Good writer, too - all of these tunes hold up on
repeat listening, and are nicely harmonized to emphasize both air and
density. Seattle veteran Phil Sparks grounds them with his typically
commanding bass work, and Jay Thomas is a superb trumpeter, whose low
notes often have the fat resonance of a trombone's - check him out on
"Sparks" - and a perfect roundness at the top of his range.
As for Elvin, it's
just amazing how good he sounds. His brush work, cymbal shading, and
edge-of-your-seat sense of time on "In a Sentimental Mood" help shape
a beautiful performance, with inspired contributions from Griggs and
guitarist Petersen. It's obvious that a lot of care went into every
aspect of this production, and it's paid off in an easily recommendable
first installment of what was, evidently, a grand recording session.