International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene USA

Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin, born 1938 in Harlem, learnt to play the piano by watching the pianist playing in the Baptist Church. His interest led him to study classical music at the High School of Music and Art. He first played viola in the All-City Orchestra and worked as an accompanist at the Apollo Theatre. Paul got his first professional engagement when King Curtis, the famous saxophonist, heard him there. They toured and made recordings together.

1960, after some years of touring with King Curtis, Paul became a member of the Scepter Records House Band. He also worked for various producers and singers. 1965, Paul became part of the folk and rock scene. He played the piano and the organ for Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Peter Paul & Mary, Carly Simon, and many more. Ten years later, a deep cooperation with Steely Dan began. "There are some musicians who are hacks," Donald Fagen of Steely Dan once said, "and then there are guys like Paul who can create something so different and unique they make the record." In the 80's, Paul also gave lessons, wrote arrangements and recorded commercial jingles.

Paul Griffin died on 14 June 2000.

Blues Around the Clock Prestige PR 7314 released 1964 recorded November 1963 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Jimmy Witherspoon, vocals Lord Westbrook, guitar Paul Griffin, Hammond organ Leonard Gaskin, bass Herbie Lovelle, drums
Unforgettable (A Tribute To Dinah Washington) Columbia CS 8963 released 1964	Aretha Franklin, piano, vocals Buddy Lucas, tenor sax, harmonica Bob Asher, trombone Ernie Royal, trumpet Paul Griffin, organ Ernie Hayes, organ, piano Teddy Charles, vibraphone George Duvivier, bass Gary Chester, drums
Hammond Swing Somerset 641 released 1965	Paul Griffin, Hammond organ further details unknown
Soul Flutes - Trust In Me CTI Records SP-3009 released 1968 recorded February and March 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Herbie Mann, flute (not confirmed) Hubert Laws, flute (not confirmed) George Marge, flute Joel Kaye, flute Romeo Penque, flute Stan Webb, flute Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar Eric Gale, guitar Paul Griffin, organ Herbie Hancock, piano, organ, harpsichord Henry Watts, vibes, marimba Ron Carter, bass Grady Tate, drums
The Free Design: One By One Project 3 Total Sound PR 5061SD released 1972	Babe Clarke, sax Seldon Powell, sax Garnett Brown, trombone Alan Reubin, trumpet, flugelhorn Ernie Royal, trumpet, flugelhorn Chris Dedrick, trumpet, piano, vocals Randy Brecker, trumpet, flugelhorn Jack Jeffers, bass trombone Jerry Friedman, guitar Stu Scharf, guitar Bob Mann, guitar Paul Griffin, organ Pat Ribboloff, piano Andy Muson, bass Tom Seznesiak, bass Billy Cobham, drums Gary Gauger, drums Ellen Dedrick, percussion Gary Gauger, percussion Ellen Dedrick, vocals Sandy Dedrick, vocals
Soul Is... Pretty Purdie Flying Dutchman FD-10154 released 1972	Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, drums, vocals Ralph MacDonald, conductor, congas Jimmy Powell, alto sax Charlie Brown, tenor sax Seldon Powell, tenor sax Harold Vick, tenor sax Arthur "Babe" Clarke, baritone sax Garnett Brown, trombone Danny Moore, trumpet Ernie Royal, trumpet Selwart Clarke, alto clarinet Jay Berliner, guitar Lloyd Davis, guitar Cornell Dupree, guitar Billy Nichols, guitar Paul Griffin, organ Horace Ott, piano Richard Tee, organ string section Gerald Jemmott, bass Paul Martinez, bass Gordon "Specs" Powell, percussion Norman Pride, bongos, congas, percussion Eileen Gilbert, vocals Carl Hall, vocals Hilda Harris, vocals Barbara Massey, vocals Maretha Stewart, vocals
Sassy Soul Strut Blue Note BN-LA109-F released 1973 recorded April 1973 in New York City/USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax Thad Jones, trumpet Garnett Brown, trombone Seldon Powell, tenor sax, flute Buddy Lucas, harmonica Paul Griffin, piano, organ Horace Ott, piano Hugh McCracken, guitar David Spinozza, guitar John Tropea, guitar Wilbur Bascomb, bass Bernard Purdie, drums Omar Clay, percussion Jack Jennings, percussion
The Manhattan Transfer: Coming Out Atlantic SD 18183 released 1976 recorded in New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA/USA	Michael Brecker, soprano sax, tenor sax Jackie Kelso, tenor sax, baritone sax Jay Migliori, tenor sax Randy Brecker, trumpet Ben Benay, guitar Bob Bowles, guitar Robert Bowles, guitar Ira Newborn, guitar Paul Griffin, organ, synthesizer John Barnes, piano Dr. John, piano Dave Frishberg, piano Arthur Jenkins, piano Clarence McDonald, piano, percussion Mike Melvoin, piano Bill Payne, piano Roger Steinman, piano Steve Paietta, accordion Andy Muson, bass Jim Gordon, drums Jim Keltner, drums David Kemper, drums Roy Markowitz, drums Jim Nelson, drums Rick Shlosser, drums Ringo Starr, drums Bobbye Hall, percussion Ralph MacDonald, percussion Nicky Marrero, percussion, timbales Bobbye Porter, percussion John "Dandy" Rodriguez, percussion Doug Throngren, percussion Tim Hauser, vocals Laurel Massé, vocals Alan Paul, vocals Janis Siegel, vocals
The Best Of King Curtis Capitol Jazz D 115560 recorded August 1962 through March 1965	King Curtis, tenor sax Billy Butler, guitar Cornell Dupree, guitar Paul Griffin, organ, piano Ernie Hayes, organ George Stubbs, piano Chuck Rainey, bass Jimmy Lewis, bass James Tyrell, bass Ray Lucas, drums

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