Johnny Griffin & Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Ow! Live At The Penthouse - 2 x 180g Vinyl LPs

2019 release

Recorded live at The Penthouse Jazz Club in Seattle, Washington on May 30, 1962 and June 6, 1962

Ow! Live at The Penthouse is a collection of previously-unissued recordings by the supercharged saxophone duo of Johnny Griffin / Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis captured over 2 nights at the famous Penthouse jazz club in Seattle, WA in 1962. Though the tenor sax battle became a fixture of the hard bop era after Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray established the format with “The Chase” in 1947, no duo was as powerful or as prolific as Davis, a veteran of the Count Basie Orchestra and a popular trio with organist Shirley Scott, and Griffin, noted for his high-voltage work with Thelonious Monk. The pair who became known known as “the Tough Tenors” cut nine LPs – including four live albums caught at Minton’s in New York – for Prestige and Jazzland in 1960-62. This limited edition deluxe LP set features the potent rhythm section of Horace Parlan on piano, Buddy Catlett on bass and Art Taylor on drums.

The extensive booklet includes rare photos from Lee Tanner and Esmond Edwards, cover photo by Don Schlitten ; essays by historian Ted Panken and pianist Michael Weiss; interviews with drummer Kenny Washington and saxophonist James Carter plus more! This is the third release from Reel To Real Recordings launched by producer Zev Feldman and saxophonist Cory Weeds focussing on important archival jazz recordings.