June 1999

Johnny Lytle
Nice and Easy
Original Jazz Classics

By Duck Baker

This 1962 session marked the first recording for Lytle outside the vibes-organ-drums trio context. An all-star caliber cast includes Johnny Griffin, Bobby Timmons, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes. The rhythm section alone would make Nice and Easy worth hearing, and Griffin is in fine form. It's always great to hear him run through his bag of tricks, so different from other tenors of the time. Lytle is an interesting player, more effective on the blues-related than standard material, but definitely an original. A solid, swinging date.