A bit of an offbeat session for tenor saxophonist
Johnny Griffin,
The Little Giant features three originals by then-obscure pianist
Norman Simmons, a reworking of the pop tune "Playmates,"
Babs Gonzalez's "Lonely One," and the tenorist's "63rd Street Theme."
Simmons' arrangements for the three horns (which include trumpeter
Blue Mitchell and trombonist
Julian Priester) are colorful; the rhythm section (pianist
Wynton Kelly, bassist
Sam Jones, and drummer
Albert "Tootie" Heath) is state of the art for the period, and
Griffin (who is featured in a trio with
Jones and
Heath on "Lonely One") is in fine form. An interesting set of obscure straight-ahead jazz.