Customer Reviews

The Musical World of J.J. Johnson

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With the bookstores bulging with titles on Duke Ellington and Miles Davis, its about time that someone covered the modest master of the modern jazz trombone, J. J. Johnson. The discography alone is fascinating, listing numerous early Benny Carter and Count Basie sessions that J. J. played on. The only quibble on the discography is the scant information on the rare, recorded in the U. S., only released in Japan, album with Kai Winding called Stonebones. That and the numerous later listings of private audience tapes that most of us have never had the opportunity to hear.

All of J. J.'s long career is here. The early years as the prototype bop trombonist, his association with Kai Winding, his time in the Hollywood studios as a composer for TV and film. There is even a description of J. J.'s home studio and his personal collection of sheet music and records.

You can also find transcribed J. J. solos and excerpts from his original compositions throughout the book.

A pricey book, but well worth it for aficionados of jazz trombone or the history of jazz.

The in depth look at JJ's Hollywood career and his work with Q. Jones and I. Hayes is amazing and seldom mentioned outside of this book. Every aspect of this bio of the greatest jazz trombonist ever is fantastic.

I bought this book for my son. He is doing a research paper for school and his topic is J.J. Johnson. It is a very comprehensive text and has been his primary source. He is thoroughly enjoying it. The price was a bit offsetting but since my husband is a trombone player and band director I felt it was a worthwhile resource for him, too. I was right. He said he has never seen a more thorough book on Johnson and it is full of great information on the trombone music of the 50's and 60's and on into the 90's. It also has a wide sampling of musical score illustrations for a good playing challenge. If you are a trombone enthusiast this book is a must-have for your reading collection.

This book is excellent! It's not only a great book to have in your library just because, but it's also a great book if you're researching J.J. Johnson for a paper, or anything else like that. JJ is the man and this books shows you why!

The print font is TOO small in this book for enjoyable reading, so far I am not to trilled with it.