J.J. Johnson was one of the most admired jazz trombonists of the post-war years. In addition to playing with a superb technique and tone, he brought an elegant soulful sound to the instrument as a solo artist. Johnson began recording in 1942 with the Benny Carter Orchestra, and then had a stint with Count Basie in 1945 and early 1946. Later that year, in June, he led his own bebop quintet for Savoy Records. Known then as Jay Jay Johnson's BeBoppers, the group included Cecil Payne (as), Bud Powell (p), Leonard Gaskin (b) and Max Roach (d).
Johnson then recorded with Charlie Parker for Dial in New York, led another bop quintet in 1947 and was a Metronome All-Star in 1949. Later that year, he was on Sonny Rollins first recording session with Babs Gonzales and Tadd Dameron's tentet on one day in April and Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool session the next, both for Capitol. {Publicity still above of J.J. Johnson]
In the 1950s he recorded relentlessly as a leader and sideman, and was frequently paired on LPs with trombonist Kai Winding. Into the 1960s and beyond, Johnson was a prolific recording artist and performer. Throughout, he also maintained a singular bouncy style that was clear, pronounced and fleshy on notes that gave the music an urgency and heart. Three of his best-known standards are Wee Dot, Lament and Enigma.
Now trombonist Nick Finzer has done the impossible: He has recorded a tribute album playing in the J.J. style. He's backed by a knockout trio, featuring Renee Rosnes on piano, Rufus Reid on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. Most of the eight songs on Legacy: A Centennial Celebration of J.J. Johnson (Outside in Music) were recorded by Johnson. Renee composed track No. 7 that Johnson recorded in 1994. [Photo above of Nick Finzer]
Nick is a New York-based trombonist who has been the inaugural Assistant Professor of Jazz Trombone at the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Texas and has taught at a variety of other music schools.
Here are the album's tracks and the J.J. Johnson albums on which they appear:
- Say When (The Total J.J. Johnson, 1966)
- Short Cake (same album)
- Pennies From Heaven (by Arthur Johnson, on The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Vol 3, 1955)
- Lament (Reflections: Jay & Kai, 1954)
- Fatback (J.J. Inc.: Jay Jay Johnson Sextet 1960)
- That Thing (Nick Finzer)
- Malaga Moon (composed by Renee Rosnes and recorded by Johnson on Tangence: J.J. Johnson and the Robert Farnon Orchestra, 1994)
- CC (Nick Finzer)
The album is solid all the way through. Nick is a spectacular player who took on a bear of an artist. The same is true for Renee (one of today's finest jazz pianists), as well as Rufus and Lewis. Monsters all.
Fans of J.J. Johnson will likely wish specific songs were included by this ensemble. For me, that would be Quincy Jones's Funk Junction, which appears as an obscure instrumental on a King Pleasure album. And Second Chance from J.J.'s Broadway. Then again, neither was composed by Johnson, but still. [Photo above, from left, Lewis Nash, Nick Finzer, Rufus Reid and Renee Rosnes at Van Gelder Studio, courtesy of Nick Finzer]
J.J. Johnson died in 2001. He was 77.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Legacy: A Centennial Celebration of J.J. Johnson (Outside in Music) here.
JazzWax clips: If you are unfamiliar with J.J. Johnson, let me provide you with a track to groove your ears for the clips that follow. Here's Say When from The Total J.J. Johnson in 1966...
Here's the same song by Nick Finzer's quartet...
Here's Johnson's lovely ballad, Lament...
And here's Short Cake...
