In honor of Blue Note Records’ 80th Anniversary, the legendary jazz label is launching the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series. Distinct from the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, this second series curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman features 180g vinyl LP releases in standard packaging with albums spanning the many eras of the label’s history presented by themes: Blue Note Debuts, Blue Grooves, Great Reid Miles Covers, Blue Note Live, and Blue Note Drummer Leaders. The series resumes in June 2019 with the reissue of three more remarkable Blue Note debuts – Johnny Griffin Introducing Johnny Griffin, Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame, and Grant Green Grant’s First Stand – and will continue with three albums released each month for the coming year.

When it comes to playing exciting straight ahead jazz, Johnny Griffin was always impossible to top. Billed as “the world’s fastest saxophonist,” Griffin was a powerful force from the beginning of his career, playing every note with intensity. While 1956’s Introducing Johnny Griffin was actually the 28-year old’s second recorded album as a leader, it was his Blue Note debut and one of the milestones of his career. Joined by an unbeatable rhythm section with Wynton Kelly and Max Roach, Griffin excels on barn-busters and ballads alike. A master at ripping effortlessly through chord changes, Griffin displays youthful energy along with the maturity of a veteran, sounding very much like himself throughout this superb outing.