McGriff Avenue
Jimmy McGriff · 2002
59 min · 8 tracks · blues
A seamless blend of blues grooves and jazz improvisation, capturing the essence of soulful storytelling through intricate organ melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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All About My Girl — This opening track sets the tone with infectious rhythms and showcases McGriff’s signature organ lines that draw listeners into his world.
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McGriff Avenue — The title track is a masterclass in groove, blending bluesy motifs with jazz structures, encapsulating McGriff's unique sound and vision.
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Soul Street — With its extended playtime, this track allows for expansive improvisation, highlighting McGriff's virtuosity and the deep connection among the ensemble.
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America, the Beautiful — This poignant rendition offers a reflective take on a classic, revealing McGriff’s ability to infuse emotional depth into familiar melodies.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
McGriff Avenue showcases strong organ melodies and cohesive grooves, marking a solid return for McGriff in the jazz organ scene.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a slower, more contemplative pace.
- Each track prominently features McGriff's organ melodies, often accompanied by a tight rhythm section that emphasizes blues and jazz elements.
- The album closes with a reinterpretation of 'America, the Beautiful,' which shifts the mood to a more reflective tone, contrasting with earlier tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- soulful grooves for late nights
- gradual build with satisfying closure
- intricate melodies for detail seekers
- vibrant energy for social gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer quick, upbeat tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'McGriff Avenue' was released in 2002, Jimmy McGriff had already established himself as a pivotal figure in the soul jazz genre. This album marked his return to recording after a brief hiatus, showcasing his mastery of the Hammond organ and reaffirming his influence on contemporary jazz musicians.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jimmy Smith· Charles Earland· Reuben Wilson
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 All About My Girl 7:49
- 2 McGriff Avenue 7:33
- 3 Soul Street 10:48
- 4 The Answer Is the Blues 8:11
- 5 The Great Unknown 6:44
- 6 Dissertation on the Blues 8:34
- 7 The Worm 6:29
- 8 America, the Beautiful 3:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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