Johnny Griffin & Eddie Lockjaw Davis - Tough Tenors (1960)

01. Tickle Toe (Young)  5:27 
02. Save Your Love For Me (Johnson)  7:06 
03. Twins (Davis, Griffin)  6:32 
04. Funky Fluke (Green)  9:14 
05. Imagination (Van Heusen, Burke)  4:27 
06. Soft Winds (Henderson)  7:17

Musicians:
Johnny Griffin - tenor saxophone
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - tenor saxophone
Junior Mance - piano
Larry Gales - bass
Ben Riley – drums

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York on November 4 & 10, 1960

If one feels their music getting a bit stale, perhaps a little too predictable, then they have a couple choices. They can dig back into their roots to reconnect with the music they love, or they can go head to head with a counterpoint in an effort to create sparks. Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis choose the latter course in Tough Tenors, turning a half-dozen pieces into an enticing mix of edgy solos and synchronized ensemble playing. The fun stuff here bops along at a giddy pace, letting Griffin and Davis trade their tough leads, while pianist Junior Mance offers a slight pause with his swift keyboarding. Lester Young's "Tickle Toe" kicks off the affair with aplomb, and Davis/Griffin's "Twins" provides plenty of room for explosive solo work. The album's center rests with the nine-minute take on Bennie Green's "Flunky Flute," a spontaneous piece that eventually -- because of the players' intensity -- becomes an endurance test. The medium tempo of "Soft Winds" qualifies as a ballad for these guys, and the mellow groove makes it an easygoing closer. Bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley also do a fine job of keeping this boisterous crew on the ground. Tough Tenors is one of the many amazing jazz recordings from 1960, and will please saxophone fans, Davis/Griffin fans, and anyone who enjoys classic hard bop. --- Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

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