J.J. Johnson   b. January 22, 1924, Indianapolis, USA, d. February 4, 2001.
(James Louis Johnson)


Sonny Stitt JJ Johnson H. McGhee - Now's the Time

Considered by many to be the finest jazz trombonist of all time, J.J. Johnson somehow transferred the innovations of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to his more awkward instrument, playing with such speed  and deceptive ease that at one time some listeners assumed he was playing valve (rather than slide) trombone! Johnson toured with the territory bands of Clarence Love and Snookum Russell during 1941-42 and then spent 1942-45 with Benny Carter's big band. 

He made his recording debut with Carter (taking a solo on "Love for Sale" in 1943) and played at the first JATP concert (1944). Johnson also had led plenty of solo space during his stay with Count Basie's Orchestra (1945-46). During 1946-50, he played with all of the top bop musicians including Charlie Parker (with whom he recorded in 1947), the Dizzy Gillespie big band, Illinois Jacquet (1947-49) and the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool Nonet.
His own recordings from the era included such sidemen as Bud Powell and a young Sonny Rollins. J.J., who also recorded with the Metronome All-Stars, played with Oscar Pettiford (1951) and Miles Davis (1952) but then was outside of music, working as a blueprint inspector for two years (1952-54). 

His fortunes changed when in August 1954 he formed a two -trombone quintet with Kai Winding that became known as Jay and Kai and was quite popular during its two years. After J.J. and Kai went their separate ways (they would later have a few reunions), Johnson led a quintet that often included Bobby Jaspar. 

He began to compose ambitious works starting with 1956's "Poem for Brass" and including "El Camino Real" and a feature for Dizzy Gillespie, "Perceptions"; his "Lament" became a standard. Johnson worked with Miles Davis, during part of 1961-62, led some small groups of his own, and by the late '60s was kept busy writing television and film scores. J.J. Johnson was so famous in the jazz world that he kept on winning DOWN BEAT polls in the 1970s even though he was not playing at all! However, starting with a Japanese tour in 1977, J.J. gradually returned to a busy performance schedule, leading a quintet in the 1980s that often featured Ralph Moore. - (Scott Yanow)

The Musical World of J.J. Johnson - Scarecrow Press recently released a new paperback version of their 1999 publication titled, The Musical World of J.J. Johnson. The paperback has a new appendix on Johnson's untimely death and an index to song titles....

Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1 Blue Note 32143.2	Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 2 Blue Note 32144.2	The Brass Orchestra Verve 314 537321-2	Heroes Verve 528864.2	w/Getz Opera House Verve 831272-2
Standards: Live at the Vanguard Antilles 510059.2	J.J.'s Broadway Verve B000060402.2	Origins: The Savoy Sessions Savoy Jazz SVJ 17127.2	J.J. Johnson's Jazz Quintets Savoy Jazz SV 0151	Jay & Kai Savoy Jazz SVJ 17220.2
Vivian Concord Jazz CCD 4523	1946-1949 Classics 1176	Savoy, Prestige and Sensation Definitive 11161.2	The Trombone Masters Columbia/Legacy 44443.2	Concepts in Blue OJC 735
Pinnacles OJC 1006	We'll Be Together Again Joe Pass (g); 10/83 OJC 909	Things Are Getting Better OJC 745	Yokohama Concert Pablo 2620 109.2 (2CD)	Yokohama Concert, Vol. 2 Pablo 2121.2
Jay & Kai Trombone Octet Collectibles COL 5677	The Great Kai & J.J. Impulse! IMPD 225	Trombone for Two Collectibles COL 6674	Trombone by Three OJC 91	Kai Winding, Jay Jay OJC 1727
Four Trombones Prestige PCD 24097.2

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