Composer, Bass Clarinetist, Bandleader
Photo by Broady Photography
“Really impressive playing. Today’s language on the bass clarinet.” — Jerry Bergonzi
“Put Woodard on your short list of new players, as you will want to keep up with this massive bass clarinetist trajectory upwards.” - Nolan Debuke, The Jazz Word
“Clearly Mr. Woodard is a master of creating not simply spiritual music, but by instrumentation alone also evokes the mystical.” - Raul Da Gama, JazzdaGama
“Griffin Woodard is one of the most gifted instrumentalists that’s come through my studio in some time. Not only is he a very lyrical and soulful player, but his composition technique is way beyond his years. I look for many great things in years to come for Griffin.” — Dave Darlington, GRAMMY Award Winning Engineer
Live at the Deer Head Inn
On Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, the Griffin Woodard Quartet recorded a live concert album at the legendary Deer Head Inn. LIVE at the DEER HEAD INN is a no-holds-barred performance that gracefully begins and ends with the devotional Palm Sunday hymn “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”. In between these solemn bookends are two powerful volumes of rollicking musical offerings.
Volume I begins with a resonant suite which includes Woodard’s “Route 1” and “Camillus House” from his debut album Completion, Alice Coltrane’s “Blue Nile”, and Louis Bourgeois' “Doxology”. The suite is rooted in spiritual symbolism acknowledging watershed places and crossroads that led to Woodard’s father’s triumph over drug and alcohol addiction. Volume I ends with a boisterous, devil-may-care Woodard composition dubbed “Alchemy”, which prominently features the drums and bass clarinet speaking to each other with fierce interplay.
Volume II begins with the formidable “Emerald” which vacillates between a thunderous rubato melody and a fiery minor blues. “Precious One”is a delicate flower composed by drummer Hugh Kline. It stands apart from the others by offering a welcome respite from the weighty emotional turbulence surrounding it. “Polyphemus”, another Kline piece, distinguishes itself by its uncanny, harmonic modernism. Wrapping up, “Kyrie” carries the listener full circle to the somber depths of the beginning suite. The blues are once again revisited with full-throttled reverence.
Photography by Tarik Jaawani. Graphic Design by Ryen Valentin.
Precious One
Graphic Design by Ryen Valentin, 2023
The Griffin Woodard Quartet is a highly skilled band of young musicians connecting with audiences through individual and collaborative artistic expression. The quartet faithfully integrates each member’s distinctive voice into a radiant, melodic tapestry. Precious One is a surprisingly tender expedition into the realm of jazz balladry, elegantly diverging from the leader’s debut album Completion, which featured original compositions and a fiery approach.
Precious One presents Woodard on bass clarinet, Cameron Campbell on piano, Miles Gilbert on bass, and Hugh Kline on drums. The quartet navigates four beloved standards, “My Funny Valentine”, “As Time Goes By”, “It Could Happen to You”, “Sentimental Mood”, and one original, “Precious One”, composed by drummer Hugh Kline.
The album was recorded in a two-hour session with all songs recorded in one take, except “As Time Goes By”, which was a head-out insert recorded in one take. Instead of aiming for perfection, the quartet chose to honor the jazz tradition of accepting the spontaneous twists often present in first takes.
Completion
Original artwork by Miyah Byers, 2022.
This album is an uninhibited, autobiographical recount of potent memories and experiences that shaped the course of Woodard’s life. The 10 original compositions and 1 arrangement chronicle Woodard’s formative experiences and lessons in love, isolation, connection, and spirituality.
“The Completion album has nothing to do with endings. The word completion means to me, spiritual wholeness,” states Woodard.
The journey on the 11 tracks from “Little Angel” to “Completion” captures the prolific virtuosity of the ensemble in a variety of contexts from solo to septet. The resplendent display of each band member's self-expression demands the listener’s undivided attention.
Completion features vocalist Georgia Heers, vocalist Deneen Jones, saxophonist Coleman Rose, pianist Abe Gold, bassist Miles Gilbert, and drummer Hugh Kline.
"Hard bopping with energy and expressivity, the track is characterized by a compelling set of changes and Woodard's beautiful tone." - Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ
“Just like a jewelry box, all songs are shining and gorgeous.” - Hiroshi Yamazaki, Pianist
“It is a rare encounter to feel so moved, even touched, by an album. Especially, a debut album.” - Travis Rogers, Jr., The Jazz Owl
News
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Griffin Woodard Receives 2022 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award
Griffin Woodard’s composition, “Kyrie” was awarded the 2022 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award.
“Kyrie” was composed and conducted by Woodard and performed by the Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra (JCWO) of New England Conservatory, directed by Frank Carlberg. Woodard is deeply grateful for the collaborative experience working with the highly skilled musicians that comprise this ensemble. Listen to Kyrie here.
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Air Drawn Dagger Receives Official Selections in 3 Film Festivals
In 2021, Woodard composed the soundtrack for Air Drawn Dagger, a short film written and directed by Jada Reid, Savannah College of Art and Design alumna.
The film has received official selection for the 2022 Seattle Black Film Festival, the 2022 San Diego Black Film Festival, and the 2021 Queen City Film Festival.