Arguably the greatest bebop/hard bop trombonist post 1945, J.J. Johnson’s work defied both musicians’ and the public’s perception that the slide trombone could not keep up in modern jazz (bebop). Gifted as a composer and arranger Johnson had a long career as both a performer, bandleader, and composer.
JJ Johnson - Episode 1
On this show I play recordings of 4 important trombonists that influenced him as well as some of Johnson’s earliest recordings.
| Composition | Artist | Year |
| A Night in Tunisia | JJ and Kai | 1956 |
| I'm Getting Sentimental | Tommy Dorsey Orchestra | circa 1936 |
| Lover | Jack Teagarden (air check) w/Louis Armstrong | circa 1950 |
| My Gal Sal | Fred Beckett---Harlan Leonard Rockets | 1940 |
| Fan It | Bill Harris/Woody Herman | 1946 |
| Lester Leaps | Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic | 1944 |
| I Mean You | Coleman Hawkins Esquire All-Stars | 1946 |
JJ Johnson - Episode 2
By the late 1940’s J.J. was the preeminent trombonist in modern jazz. He recorded numerous times with his own group and a variety of others, including Charlie Parker and Miles Davis’s Nonet (Royal Roost Band). He also began to compose original material for his recordings.
| Composition | Artist | Album | Year |
| How Deep is the Ocean | Charlie Parker | Dial Sessions | 1947 |
| Jay Jay | J.J. Johnson | Jazz Quintets | 1948 |
| Boneology | J.J. Johnson | Jazz Quintets | 1948 |
| Deception | Miles Davis | Birth of the Cool | 1949 |
| Turnpike | J.J. Johnson | The Eminent JJ Johnson v1 | 1953 |
| Walkin' | Miles Davis All Stars | Walkin' | 1954 |
JJ Johnson - Episode 3
The recordings from this podcast comprise some of his some of his finest work from 1954 through 1957. In 1954 Johnson formed a group with trombonist Kai Winding: the "Jay and Kai Quintet." The trombone styles and personalities of the two musicians, although very different, blended so well that the group was a huge success both musically and commercially.
| Composition | Artist | Album | Year |
| It's All Right With Me | J.J. Johnson/Kai Winding | Jay and Kai | 1954 |
| Lament | J.J. Johnson/Kai Winding | Jay and Kai | 1954 |
| Coffee Pot | J.J. Johnson | The Eminent JJ Johnson V. 2 | 1955 |
| Old Devil Moon | J.J. Johnson | The Eminent JJ Johnson V. 2 | 1955 |
| Night In Tunisia | J.J. Johnson/Kai Winding | Jay & Kai+6/J.J. in Person | 1956 |
| Billie’s Bounce | Stan Getz & J.J. | At The Opera House [Live] | 1957 |
| Wail March | Sonny Rollins | Vol. 2 | 1957 |
JJ Johnson - Episode 4
J.J. Johnson was also an important composer who wrote a number of works in the late 1950s that fall into a category referred to as 3rd Stream. You can hear the influence of many 20th century orchestral composers blended with jazz in these recordings. They are often overlooked works, but are rich in color, harmony, texture, and improvisation. In the late 1960s and early 1970s J.J. tried to break into television and motion picture sound scoring and enjoyed moderate success.
| Composition | Artist | Album | Year |
| Poem for Brass | J.J. Johnson | The Birth of the 3rd Stream | 1956 |
| El Camino Real | J.J. Johnson | The Brass Orchestra | 1996 |
| Aquarius | J.J. Johnson | J.J. Inc. | 1960 |