Griffin is a trumpeter who has been on the local scene for some time. Most of his work has been in role of supporting musician, but on Grace, you might say he gets to blow his own horn. Griffin possess a nice rich tone, writes pretty decent original material and has a voice that is unspectacular but solid. There is little in the way of New Orleans roots except perhaps for the set closer, “The In Between,” but this is a worthwhile set for anyone who like smooth, big band, mixtures of jazz, funk, soul and even gospel. The title track is the big production number (no less than eleven vocalists are present) but some listeners might prefer the simpler arrangements on “Buckethead” and “Blue Collar Worker.” A touch of Wynton here and there, but little else; Griffin is his own man. Herman Ernest (drums), Marc Brooks (bass), Clark Knighten (keyboards) and Marc Adams (organ) provide a really tight background for Griffin’s high flying trumpet and flugelhorn. Well worth checking out if you’re in a mellow mood.