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Malcolm Griffith is probably best known as a drummer, having
played with a wide variety of groups and performers in styles
as diverse as jazz, reggae, hip-hop, funk, and rock. However,
he is also possessed of a deep bass voice that is not often heard
among male jazz vocalists in this day and age. In fact, the last
popular jazz singer with this type of voice and this way with
a ballad was the remarkable Johnny Hartman, to whom Malcolm has
dedicated his premiere CD as a vocalist, Come Love With Me.
For this endeavor, Griffith has selected a variety of standards
by such classic composers of the 1940s and 50s as Ira Gershwin,
Kurt Weill, Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, Sammy Cahn, and others.
Backed by an able band that includes pianist Daryl Kojack, bassist
Sean Conly, guitarist Johnathan Kreisberg, and drummer Gene Lewin,
Griffith possesses the ability to swing as well as to deliver
a ballad with uncommon honesty. His voice is subtle, never booming
or belting, yet not disappearing into the woodwork either. It’s
truly a smooth, romantic voice that will remind many listeners
of their early courtship or dates spent dancing to these memorable
tunes.
Born on the Caribbean island of Barbados, Griffith was interested
in drums and music from an early age. His father purchased a drum
set with the intention of getting an old band back together, but
that didn’t happen. Meanwhile, Malcolm saw a local band
play, and the drummer impressed him with the lively calypso beat.
Malcolm asked his father not to return the drum kit to the store
and began learning to play. Within a short time he was playing
with many popular bands and traveled the Caribbean. Eventually
he migrated to Montreal, Canada, where he formed his own funk
band by the name of Soft Shoe, and later performed with the African
music-inspired band the Marbles.
Arriving in New York City in the 1980s, Malcolm, a talented cook,
took jobs cooking at restaurants around the city, eventually becoming
chef at Lee Mazelli's Sports Cafe. He also began gigging around
NYC as a drummer, and wound up at Arthur’s Tavern in the
West Village during the early 90s, where he became the house drummer
when the resident drummer passed away. For three years Malcolm
served as the house drummer, playing with up to four different
bands a week in a variety of musical styles. Some of the musicians
he worked with at Arthur’s include JD Allen, Vincent Herring,
Freddy Francis, Grant Green Jr., Boss Townsend, Benny Powell,
Dana Jared, and Gary Bartz as well as many, many others. He has
also played as a drummer on over forty recordings with a variety
of different performers. In 1997 he took up singing seriously,
studying classical voice as well as singing and musical theory.
Armed with a great deal of musical experience, Malcolm now releases
his CD, Come Love With Me. The songs he performs are
those that have served as inspiration to him over the years, and
romantics of all ages and musical tastes are bound to enjoy his
delivery. Showcasing Malcolm's excellent enunciation and a rich
vocal tone, Come Love With Me is a fine, mellow recording
for warm summer nights spent with the one you love. Griffith is
subtle but swinging on uptempo numbers and his deep voice is commanding
on the ballads. In addition, the backing musicians on this CD
are always there with just the right support, but never stealing
the spotlight away from Griffith.
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