Lion, Camel & Child, The

Reviewed: 2018-12-25
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: On Griffith’s latest disc, one hears interesting, abstract, modern compositions. Griffiths writes good jazz pieces, and his tubular sax tone is complemented by a good sense of construction in his solos. And Griffiths’ band is a very fine one, all of whom are explosive, interesting performers.
If You Like: Sonny Rollins, Jon Faddis, McCoy Tyner
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
The Lion, Camel & Child (1-4) (18:35)
*1/ The Lion (5:13) – full band starts with a blast> midtempo jam build into uptempo rocking jam> trumpet solo to stop
2/ The Camel (5:12) – bass/drums start> slow jam> builds in volume & intensity> slow fade
3/ Cadenza (2:32) – slow trumpet solo> fade
**4/ The Child (5:36) – sax starts> rocking fast jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> drum solo> fast jam> crescendo end
5/ Narcomedusae (8:42) – bass/piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> sax solo> midtempo jam> fade
*6/ Strawberry Quik (4:48) – full band starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*7/ Amarone (6:45) – horns start> slow jam> bass solo> sax solo> trumpet solo> slow fade
**8/ For A Derailed Painter (4:41) – trumpet starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> piano solo> slow fade
9/ Deliciously Ambiguous (6:00) – horns start> midtempo jam> bass solo> sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> fade
*10/ The Corridor (6:05) – piano starts> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> piano/sax duet> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
11/ Last Say (4:24) – bass starts> slow jam> slow fade