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Paul Griffin
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Profile Information
- What is your profession?
- Musician, Songwriter, Singer, Producer, Promoter, Composer, Broadcaster, Manager, Agent, Other Jazz professional, Visual Artist, Writer, Journalist, Author, Poet, Actor, Listener, Educator
- What Instrument Do you Play?
- Trumpet
- Where Are you located?
- New York State
- How did you find out about TGJN?
- Ron Aprea
- About Me:
- I studied trumpet with: my father, Chris Griffin, (Lead Trumpet, CBS Staff Orchestra) and also with Bill Clark (Lead Trumpet, NBC Staff Orchestra) Carl Poole (Lead Trumpet, NBC Staff Orchestra) Murray Karpilovsky (Principal Trumpet with the Symphony Of The Air under Arturo Toscanini) I attended the Naval School of Music in Washington, DC where I was also in the honor guard at the White House for the funeral of JFK. I attended Fairleigh Dickenson University. After a couple of tours with Fred Waring as lead trumpet player, musical anrranger, and musical contractor, I moved to the UK in 1970 where I performed with the BBC radio bands.
Music has always been paramount in my life. Maynard Ferguson was a major influence, and he certainly inspired many generations of musicians. I remember the first time I heard one of his recordings; (Shorty Rodgers-"Infinity Promenade") he blew me away! I was just fourteen, and had arrived at a pivotal stage in my own developing trumpet style. I wasn't practicing nearly enough, and my dad (a studio lead trumpet player, himself) was threatening to pull the private lessons. I had been studying primarily classical music up to that point. Maynard inspired the jazz side of my development, and an upper register that I'm proud to say provided me with many years of employment in the studios of Europe, South Africa, and the USA, as a "specialist."
I lived in Manhasset, NY at the time, and although I was fourteen, many of my friends were CW Post college kids. They would take me along to some of the clubs where Maynard was performing. It was at one of these where a waitress asked what I was drinking? I figured I would see how far I could push this. I knew that I needed to order something that would have a ring of confidence; that would demonstrate a maturity beyond my chronological years. And so, as Maynard launched into his breathtaking cadenza in "Ole'," I launched into my first breathtaking extra dry martini, stirred not shaken, straight-up, with an olive! Well, after "Got The Spirit" & "Three More Foxes" and four martinis, I was sneaking in the door late that night and feeling very much younger, and uniquely vulnerable as my alcohol induced bravado abandoned me. The next day, my mother asked where I had been. I never held back. Mothers weren't to be trifled with in the fifties. Besides, my mom was cool! Just how cool, I was about to find out. How could I not share with her the excitement that I had so recently experienced in the presence of Maynard Ferguson! I proudly confessed everything! Ignoring the lingering bass drum doing an encore performance in my head, and the existential conflict taking place somewhere between my stomach and the great divide while threatening to redecorate our kitchen, I told her all about Maynard's prowess on the trumpet, french horn and baritone horn. She seemed to share my enthusiasm, and asked what I ordered to drink. When I confidently told her, "an extra dry martini, stirred not shaken, straight-up, with an olive!" she replied "good choice;" "let's you and I go for a drink!" Well! Timing is everything. Didn't that just shake up my little world! My mom and I. How cool is that? When we walked into Gino's on Plandome Road, (as in the book, "The Tender Bar") the bartender (whom I barely recognized from a previous "drinking encounter" of the "under-aged kind") asked what we would like. Mom ordered her usual rum and coke, and proceeded to introduce me as "her baby boy" who would from thence on, be having coke au noir! With a knowing look, and a firm nod, that was the last time I ever got served there. But, not the last time I saw Maynard. Not by a long shot!
Maynard is fondly remembered not only by his alumni, but by all who were privileged to have heard and recognized something very special. He was one of a kind! He didn't just push the envelope, he blew right past the Singularity. Yes, there have been others who have approached his abilities, but never with the raw excitement, I fear may never again be explored.
Sadly, with the passing of Maynard, I'm reminded that the trumpet appears to be nearing the end of its unique place in history. Brilliant trumpet players abound, yet the instrument by which Kings were heralded, regrettably may soon be relegated to museums and memories along with the Serpentine. We, who have pressed cold steel to our warm sensuous lips are a fraternity of the knowing. The addiction of an endorphin rush from the unique combination of physicality, and musicality is difficult to surrender. As will be the memory of Maynard Ferguson.
Well, it's certainly the end of yet another era. My father, Chris Griffin, (a music hall of fame trumpeter himself) who was there when Maynard first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1952, passed away on father's day 2005.
Over the years, I have performed with:
– Billy Maxteds' Manhattan Jazz Band-1967
– Jimmie Dorsey Orchestra-1968/Dianna Ross & The Supremes/ Syd Caesar & Imogene Coca/Joe Williams/Gregory & Maurice Hines/CBS Network Television:1966-1969/Ed Sullivan Show– Ella Fitzgerald/Tom Jones/CBS Robert Kennedy Special/Bill Evans/Fred Warings' Pennsylvanians:1969-1970/The Blackpool Tower Orchestra Of Sir Lou Grade/The British Broadcasting Corporation-Manchester/The British Broadcasting Corporation-Leeds/The British Broadcasting Corporation-London
/The British Broadcasting Corporation-Birmingham/Thames Television/Yorkshire Television/Granada Television/South African Broadcasting Corporation/Brook Benton/Tony Christie/The Clark Brothers/Lovelace Watkins/Howard Keele/ Frankie Laine/Al Martino/Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes/– Matt Monro/The Stylistics/The Four Tops/Lovelace Watkins- Johannesburg-Petermaritsburg-Durban-Port Elizabeth-East London-Cape Town-Harare-Zimbabwe (Presidential Palace)
Returned to USA-1982/Lew Anderson Canadian Tour (1984)/ Ray Anthony Tour (1983)/Tommy Dorsey-Warren Covington Tour (1982)/Bob Crosby -Atlantic City (1982)/Skitch Henderson Tour (1982)/Broadway Shows-42nd Street (1983)-Dream Girls (1984)-Tap Dance Kid (1984)/Barnum & Bailey at Madison Square Garden (1983)/Disney On Ice at Madison Square Garden (1983)/Frankie Avalon/Dihann Carroll/Vic Damone/Sammy Davis Jr./Eddie Fischer/Sergio Franchi/Kathy Lee Gifford/Maurice Hines/Clint Holmes/Jack Jones/Jay Leno/Jackie Mason/
In 1984, I fell from a stage and seriously injured my cervical spine, and after seeing no fewer than a dozen specialists, I was forced to cease playing the trumpet. (Article in "Allegro, May, 1989") Oh well! I compiled a few things on cd's (on my web page) "Trumpets & Crumpets" and a jazz-fusion band that I formed called Force Ten "We'll Be Right Back" Irene, my wife still sings, and so we recorded a vocal duet cd "The Two Of Us" I recorded my own attempt at a semi-jazz vocal cd: "My Current Sea" I also created a web page dedicated to my father, Chris Griffin called "Young Man With A Horn" And so... music is still my heart and soul...just not on the trumpet anymore.
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Tamm E
Sistah, I'm very proud of you! Your creativeness keeps growing and growing. God Bless you and continue to spread the word!
Friend to the end...
George V. Johnson, Jr
This is a wonderful, and important site, and my friends who have joined seem to agree. Thank you for what must be a ton of work on your end.
Warm regards,
Ron
Hi Tamm E!
I was just saying that you knocked this out of the park with TGJN. We have needed something like this for so long and I am telling my friends about this.
so much more. This is real. The people here truly love jazz and we know people like that are not your average people.
I said that it is sort of like a myspace for jazz but it is actually
I have felt for a long time that straight-ahead jazz has been slipping away from us. I have hope now that there will be a resurgence (or shall I say an insurgency:-) to bring this baby back full force!
You just knocked it out of the park. Thanks again.
xoxo,
Janie
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December 26, 2008 from 11am to 4pm – University of the Streets
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Comment Wall (15 comments)
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GeoJO
Find more videos like this on The Global Jazz Network
Thanks for the friendship and have a great week!
Peace,
Luiz
We think about your dad all the time. Yes, I know he loves this video. I'm sure he and Hamp already checked it out between sets! ...Yeah, our "gift from God" really did a masterful job with the editing.
Hope we see you guys soon.
Love,
Ron, Angela, and Matthew
When you have a minute, maybe take a peek at our new video clip. Nice footage of Hamp and Frank Foster.
Best,
Ron
With a voice like yours, you won't be "flying solo" for long. Do you know Ronnie Aldrich, Piano? Or Bill Twyman, Bass? Bob Gillespie, Drums? Ted White, Alto? I worked with them in SA. You should hook-up with Artie Schroek whenever he heads your way.
Do you like Acapella? Check out "Groove For Thought" An amazing vocal group from Seattle, WA. They do wonderful arrangement of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes"
Thanks for the kind comments and encouragement. Let me know if you know any good musicians around here. Im looking for a jazz trio to work with, flying solo at the moment :(
All the best!
I love Fanfare.....what a great piece!
Cheryl
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