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J.J. Johnson

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

J.J. Johnson · J. J. Johnson, in full James Louis Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. He was born on 22 January 1924. He began on piano at nine and chose the trombone at fourteen. In 1941 he began professionally with Clarence Love, then played with Snookum Russell, where the trumpeter Fats Navarro urged him to play in the style of the tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Later he also played with Benny Carter and Count Basie.

Music and breakthrough

He was one of the first trombonists to embrace bebop. In that music the trombone stood in the background, because instruments with valves and keys, such as the trumpet and saxophone, seemed better suited to the high speed and technical demands. In 1946 Dizzy Gillespie encouraged him. After Basie, Johnson played in small bebop groups in New York, in 1947 he toured with Illinois Jacquet, and he recorded as a leader with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt and Bud Powell, among others. In 1947 he took part in a Charlie Parker session for Dial.

Influence

In 1954 he founded the Jay and Kai Quintet with the trombonist Kai Winding, which lasted until 1956 and was a musical and commercial success. After that he led small groups of his own, with Bobby Jaspar, Clifford Jordan, Nat Adderley and Freddie Hubbard, among others. His recordings for Blue Note, as a leader and with Miles Davis, are among his best-known work. Johnson showed that the trombone can sound fast and precise, and made the instrument a full voice in bebop. He died in 2001.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording by Jay and Kai and notice how two trombones play with each other: who takes the melody, who the counter-voice, and how quickly do they switch?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsThird stream