Eminent J.J. Johnson 1 [Original recording remastered]

J. J. Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1953
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00005LANM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,869 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reverse the order., August 15, 2006

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eminent J.J. Johnson 1 (Audio CD)

With little fanfare, Blue Note/Capitol (or Amazon) has lowered the price on many of the most essential RVG editions, making it hard to resist picking up both volumes 1 and 2 of this series. If you're limiting yourself to just one, don't assume Vol. 1 has to be better because of the presence of Clifford Brown. He's in predictably top form, as is Jimmy Heath, but Volume 2 is the more satisfying demonstration of J. J.'s singular eminence as a player, featuring him either as the solo horn or joined by the always companionable Hank Mobley. In fact, Vol. 1, with its 3-horn arrangements and harmonic obstacle courses, places less emphasis on J. J.'s melodic inventiveness and unique, burnished sound. Finally, both volumes include 3 gratuitous (for most listeners) retakes, making it tempting to download the master takes from both sessions onto a single disk.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eminent indeed, October 6, 2006

By 

R. Fischer (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eminent J.J. Johnson 1 (Audio CD)

Every time I listen to "Capri", the first track on this fine CD, I have to smile. What a joyful tune! Just try to keep from tapping your foot to the music, or humming along with the band. Go on, I dare ya.

J. J. Johnson's command of the trombone is stunning: fast or slow, high or low, he plays it all with a seemingly effortless mastery. Note how melodic his solos are, even on the uptempo numbers. Jimmy Heath on tenor and Clifford Brown on trumpet play with energy and passion. The rhythm section--John Lewis on piano, Percy Heath (Jimmy's brother) on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums--sounds great but isn't as tight as the Kelly-Mingus-Clarke-Martinez section on Eminent vol 2.

Both vols 1 and 2 were remastered in 2001, with audio much improved over their 1989 CD releases.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz trombone at its absolute best, July 9, 2005

By 

Robert Bezimienny (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eminent J.J. Johnson 1 (Audio CD)

Jay Jay Johnson is the only jazz trombonist who produces sounds that are simply beautiful. Here he teams with the trumpeter Clifford Brown and the results are incredible. Both have the ability to articulate notes with accuracy and delicacy, and so can make blue moods haunting and fragile, yet be equally adept in making the up-tempo numbers blaze. Jimmy Heath, on sax, is also in great form, living up to his nickname of 'Little Bird'. The technical sound quality is marvellous too, despite the vintage (recorded June 22nd, 1953).
*
Johnson had worked with the big bands of Benny Carter and Count Basie, and recorded with Bud Powell, Sonny Stitt and Miles Davis (available on the RVG series 'Miles Davis, Volume 2'). He went on to work scoring films and eventually retired from performance. He died in 2001.
*
If you've heard Curtis Fuller, or Grachan Moncur, and, their virtues nowwithstanding, wondered whether the trombone was truly agile enough for be-bop or post-bop jazz, be prepared to be converted. This record, along with Art Blakey's 'A Night at Birdland' dates, rank as some of my favourite early 50's jazz recordings.