“Fresh, post-modern quintet”
Canadian Johnny Griffith obviously is open to a wide variety of music. He says the song “Cinders” on his album “Dance With the Lady” is based on the sounds of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Cinderella.” While it has some of the haunting nature of the Russian’s compositional style, it never drifts away from its heart in jazz. In a similar sense, he also offers “The Kuleshascope,” which he says is a piece based on 12-tone theory inspired by a former teacher. As in all 12-tone music, it is a nonhummable piece of theory, but he manages to give it some life with the quality of the play. His musical strength and that of sidemen Jeremy Pelt on trumpet are the biggest reasons for the album’s success. Throughout the album, the two of them offer strong statements of theme, but they also add rich improvisations. Pelt gives “The Mile Walk” a laid-back feel with his muted horn, but creates a good deal of life with his open horn in “The Zissou Predicament.” Meanwhile, Griffith is equally energetic on tenor and alto saxes but seems most comfortable on the alto. His lighter alto sound helps to define ”Princess Aura Goes to Phrygia,” for instance. On either, though, he offers fine melodic work. Outside of the two classically-tinged pieces, the rest of the album is fresh, post-modern quintet work.