J.J.
Johnson is an NEA Jazz Master 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.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jj-johnson/
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J.
J. Johnson es un Maestro del Jazz NEA Considerado por muchos como el
mejor trombonista de jazz de todos los tiempos. ¡J. J. Johnson
transfirió de alguna manera las innovaciones de Charlie Parker y Dizzy
Gillespie a su instrumento más incómodo, tocando con tanta velocidad y
facilidad engañosa que en un momento algunos oyentes asumieron que
estaba tocando trombón de válvula (en lugar de slide)! Johnson realizó
una gira con las bandas territoriales de Clarence Love y Snookum Russell
durante 1941-42 y luego pasó 1942-45 con la big band de Benny Carter.
Hizo
su debut discográfico con Carter (haciendo un solo en" Love for Sale "
en 1943) y tocó en el primer concierto de JATP (1944). Johnson también
había liderado mucho espacio en solitario durante su estadía con la
Orquesta de Count Basie(1945-46). Durante 1946-50, tocó con todos los
mejores músicos de bop, incluido Charlie Parker (con quien grabó en
1947), la Dizzy Gillespie big band, Illinois Jacquet (1947-49) y Miles
Davis Birth of the Cool Nonet. Sus propias grabaciones de la época
incluían acompañantes como Bud Powell y un joven Sonny Rollins. J. J.,
quien también grabó con Metronome All-Stars, tocó con Oscar Pettiford
(1951) y Miles Davis (1952), pero luego estuvo fuera de la música,
trabajando como inspector de planos durante dos años (1952-54).
Su
suerte cambió cuando en agosto de 1954 formó un quinteto de dos
trombones con Kai Winding que se conoció como Jay y Kai y fue bastante
popular durante sus dos años. Después de que J. J. y Kai tomaran caminos
separados (más tarde tendrían algunas reuniones), Johnson dirigió un
quinteto que a menudo incluía a Bobby Jaspar.
Comenzó a componer
obras ambiciosas a partir de "Poem for Brass" de 1956 e incluyendo "El
Camino Real" y un largometraje para Dizzy Gillespie, "Perceptions"; su
"Lamento" se convirtió en un estándar. Johnson trabajó con Miles Davis,
durante parte de 1961-62, dirigió algunos pequeños grupos propios y, a
fines de los 60, se mantuvo ocupado escribiendo partituras para
televisión y cine. ¡J. J. Johnson era tan famoso en el mundo del jazz
que siguió ganando en las encuestas A LA BAJA en la década de 1970 a
pesar de que no tocaba en absoluto! Sin embargo, comenzando con una gira
japonesa en 1977, J. J. poco a poco volvió a una apretada agenda de
presentaciones, liderando un quinteto en la década de 1980 que a menudo
presentaba a Ralph Moore.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jj-johnson/
