Customer Reviews

The Trombone Master

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a great album! This one is definitely worth buying. Even having seen swinging live performances by trombone legends like Slide Hampton and Steve Turre, I still rarely feel in the mood for listening to jazz trombone. More often you'll find the likes of Chick Corea, Bill Evans, or Stan Getz playing at my place. Somehow, though, I always love listening to J.J. This album is unbeatable for a great sampling of J.J.'s playing--every track is a gem, especially "What Is This Thing Called Love" and "Laura". Check out "Blue Trombone" for nine straight minutes of J.J. playing licks left and right, easily swinging through chorus after chorus of blues. J.J.'s ridiculously clean and fast playing are just unbelievable--at times it almost seems like he must be playing valve trombone! His articulation and attack are indisputably right on the mark. If you haven't heard much jazz trombone, this is a great introduction. For only $11.97 it's not a bad price at all.

The first four tracks are from "J. J. in Person," a killer on-location session on Columbia with unequaled support by Nat Adderley and Tommy Flanagan. "Laura," in particular, showcases J. J. at his representative best--the tone, the note choices, the phrasing, the perfection of the man in all that he did. Blessed with ample technique, J. J. like Miles Davis showed how to harness that facility toward thoughtful, musical ends: there's a purpose behind every note. There are plentiful examples of J. J. alone with rhythm section, or in the company of players like Winding, Getz, and Rollins, but none, that I'm aware of, with John Coltrane. If J. J. had been the trombonist on "Blue Trane," that session might have been another "Kind of Blue."

Trombone is not my favorite jazz instrument, but once in a while it is nice to have a different-sounding lead instrument to provide variety to all the great recordings of saxophonists, pianists and guitarists. J.J. Johnson's career ran from just after World War II to the late 1980's, with the usual ups and downs and changes of direction common to jazz artists in those decades. When I first grew into jazz in the late '50's and early '60's, he was quite active, especially with Kai Winding. This collection lacks Kai, but it offers eight full-length tracks and a brief closing from four Johnson LP's issued between 1957-1961. He is helped by Nat Adderly on cornet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, Max Roach on drums, and assorted other band-mates. The CD gives us his versions of six pop music classics, one of Thelonious Monk's best compositions, and Duke Ellington's famous "Satin Doll." For about 46 minutes the trombone master will gently swing you along the highway or please you in the living room. I can't imagine any fan of classic jazz regretting this purchase.

Don't waste time reading the reviews, buy it already. It is full of great recordings, and J.J. is at his prime here.

Excellent music by one of the greatest, if not the greatest, trombonist ever. My favorite track would by "My Old Flame". A definite buy for any jazz fan.

The 1st few tracks are live in a studio it seems. But as well as great trombone - like all the sidemen are very special and sound that way too. Nat Adderley, Tommy Flanagan shines thru here and there with terrific lines and accompaniment, Max Roach has a burning solo, also Victor Feldman and others.

What is there to say? Nat Adderley appears on a couple of cuts, and he shows just what a terrific player he was back when this album was recorded. But JJ is in top form, and that's as good as it gets in my book. The opening cut, Monk's "Misterioso" is a marvel; JJ on "Laura," "Blue Trombone," "My Old Flame," and "Goodbye" are especially good, I think. Anyone who loves jazz will treasure this CD.

J.J. Johnson is an amazing trombonist and has inspired me to play and play more. I recently was assinged a school solo and I chose one of J.J's songs for it. I picked "Satin Doll", It's and amazing cd and is the best complilation of his work. Definite buy!

If you think you know Jazz and have never picked up this album, you need to wake up. This is a classic.

The master is gone, but we will always have the brillance of his playing on records & CDs. Every time I listen to this recording I'm still amazed by JJ's playing - DON'T MISS THIS ONE!