J.J. Johnson

Trombone · born 22 January 1924 – died 4 February 2001

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Although he was born James Louis Johnson, he answered to 'JJ', a nickname picked up from his habit of initialling his arrangements, and he subsequently made JJ his legal name. He had begun writing charts while with Benny Carter's band in the early 40s, his first important engagement, although he had previously played with Fats Navarro in a touring group led by Snookum Russell. After leaving Carter in 1945, he spent a period with Count Basie and then settled in New York, working at the heart of the new bebop scene. By this time his trombone playing had matured from a fast, full-toned and declamatory manner into a very fast, light-bodied, supremely targeted delivery: nobody got around the horn with the same agility and on-the-nose accuracy as JJ. He mixed with the best of the boppers, turning up on some of Parker's Dial titles and leading his own dates for Savoy, while also touring with Illinois Jacquet's group (where Johnson was surprised to find the leader very interested in the new music and encouraging of the trombonist's adventures). He joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band in 1949 and was a part of the Miles Davis nonet, but music wasn't paying his bills and he stopped playing for a time to work as a blueprint inspector. On his return, in 1954, he cut some outstanding sessions for Blue Note, as well as playing masterful solos on Davis's Walkin' session for Prestige. But what turned his career around was forming a trombone duo with Kai Winding, the band coming to be called Jay and Kai. It lasted for only a couple of years (besides occasional reunions in the 60s), yet records for Prestige, Savoy and Columbia were all warmly received and the music — though rather blandly conceived around the simpatico tones of the two leaders — struck a chord with audiences. After this, Johnson led his own band and recorded for Columbia, wrote some large-scale works (Perceptions was one such, recorded with Dizzy Gillespie as principal soloist in 1961) and taught. After 1970, when he moved to Los Angeles, he became much more involved in film and TV scoring, and largely left jazz performance behind, though he sometimes played for fun. The price Johnson paid for his peerless virtuosity on the trombone was a soupçon of blandness: in his bebop heyday he often sounds as if he is improvising as some sort of academic exercise, and with the rise of a new expressionism on the trombone in recent years, his methods have to some extent gone out of style. Yet his choice of notes and the warmth of his delivery in his late-50s and early-60s music overcomes any worry that he is coasting through it, and there is much to be rediscovered in the records he made in this period. It was a pleasure to find him returning to more active duty as a leader-performer in the late 80s, and though there was a cloud cast over this time with the illness and subsequent death of his wife Vivian in 1992, his final records, including the lovely The Brass Orchestra (1996), find him in suitably magisterial voice. Sadly, depressed by a worsening illness of his own, he took his own life in 2001.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

◆Outside Links

As leader

  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By ThreeJ.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By Three
  • J.J. Johnson – J is for JazzJ.J. Johnson – J is for Jazz
  • J.J. Johnson – First PlaceJ.J. Johnson – First Place
  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding – The Great Kai & J.J.

Plays on

  • Dizzy Gillespie – AfroDizzy Gillespie – Afro
  • Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzier and DizzierDizzy Gillespie – Dizzier and Dizzier
  • Cannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball AdderleyCannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball Adderley
  • Miles Davis – Volume OneMiles Davis – Volume One
  • Miles Davis – Volume TwoMiles Davis – Volume Two
  • Various Artists – ConceptionVarious Artists – Conception
  • Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. JohnsonSonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson
  • Kai and Jay / Bennie Green – With StringsKai and Jay / Bennie Green – With Strings
  • Sonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy JonesSonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones
  • Kenny Dorham – Afro-CubanKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Miles Davis – Birth of the CoolMiles Davis – Birth of the Cool
  • Miles Davis All-Stars – Walkin’Miles Davis All-Stars – Walkin’
  • Coleman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies HighColeman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies High
  • Benny Golson – The Modern TouchBenny Golson – The Modern Touch
  • Elvin Jones – And Then AgainElvin Jones – And Then Again

Mentioned in text

  • Modern Jazz Quartet – ConcordeModern Jazz Quartet – Concorde
  • Clifford Brown – Memorial AlbumClifford Brown – Memorial Album
  • Elmo Hope Trio – MeditationsElmo Hope Trio – Meditations
  • Jon Eardley – Jon Eardley SevenJon Eardley – Jon Eardley Seven
  • Randy Weston Trio – With These HandsRandy Weston Trio – With These Hands
  • Ronnie Ball – All About RonnieRonnie Ball – All About Ronnie
  • Various Artists – Jazz Men DetroitVarious Artists – Jazz Men Detroit
  • Lars Gullin – Baritone SaxLars Gullin – Baritone Sax
  • Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre 3
  • Charles Mingus – The ClownCharles Mingus – The Clown
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz QuartetModern Jazz Quartet – Modern Jazz Quartet
  • Charles Mingus – East CoastingCharles Mingus – East Coasting
  • Paul Chambers Sextet – Whims of ChambersPaul Chambers Sextet – Whims of Chambers
  • Hank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee MorganHank Mobley – With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume ThreeThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume Three
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley QuintetHank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet
  • Sabú – Palo CongoSabú – Palo Congo
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Bud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume ThreeBud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Three
  • Kai Winding – The Trombone SoundKai Winding – The Trombone Sound
  • Miles Davis – ‘Round About MidnightMiles Davis – ‘Round About Midnight
  • Kai Winding – Trombone PanoramaKai Winding – Trombone Panorama
  • Miles Davis – Miles AheadMiles Davis – Miles Ahead
  • Sonny Rollins – Way Out WestSonny Rollins – Way Out West
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Bob Brookmeyer Quintet – Traditionalism RevisitedBob Brookmeyer Quintet – Traditionalism Revisited
  • Sonny Rollins – Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus
  • Phil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young BloodsPhil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young Bloods
  • Prestige All-Stars – All Day LongPrestige All-Stars – All Day Long
  • Kenny Burrell – Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell
  • Paul Quinichette – On the Sunny SidePaul Quinichette – On the Sunny Side
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Matthew Gee – Jazz by GeeMatthew Gee – Jazz by Gee
  • Thelonious Monk – Thelonious HimselfThelonious Monk – Thelonious Himself
  • Thelonious Monk – Monk’s MusicThelonious Monk – Monk’s Music
  • Thelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets MonkThelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets Monk
  • Cecil Payne – Cecil PayneCecil Payne – Cecil Payne
  • Warne Marsh – Warne MarshWarne Marsh – Warne Marsh
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff JordanCliff Jordan – Cliff Jordan
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Curtis Fuller – Bone & BariCurtis Fuller – Bone & Bari
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny’s CribSonny Clark – Sonny’s Crib
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Sonny Rollins – A Night at the Village VanguardSonny Rollins – A Night at the Village Vanguard
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Miles Davis – MilestonesMiles Davis – Milestones
  • Jimmy Cleveland – Cleveland StyleJimmy Cleveland – Cleveland Style
  • King Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross SingsKing Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross Sings
  • Tommy Flanagan – OverseasTommy Flanagan – Overseas
  • Pepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 SpotPepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot
  • Max Roach – Deeds, Not WordsMax Roach – Deeds, Not Words
  • The 3 Sounds – The 3 SoundsThe 3 Sounds – The 3 Sounds
  • Bennie Green – Walkin’ and TalkinBennie Green – Walkin’ and Talkin
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
  • Johnny Griffin – The Little GiantJohnny Griffin – The Little Giant
  • Young Men from Memphis – Down Home ReunionYoung Men from Memphis – Down Home Reunion
  • Curtis Fuller – Sliding EasyCurtis Fuller – Sliding Easy
  • Ornette Coleman – Change of the CenturyOrnette Coleman – Change of the Century
  • Freddie Hubbard – Open SesameFreddie Hubbard – Open Sesame
  • Miles Davis – Sketches of SpainMiles Davis – Sketches of Spain
  • Eric Dolphy – Outward BoundEric Dolphy – Outward Bound
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Thelonious Monk – With John ColtraneThelonious Monk – With John Coltrane
  • Bill Evans Trio – ExplorationsBill Evans Trio – Explorations
  • Jimmy Heath – The QuotaJimmy Heath – The Quota
  • Kai Winding – The Incredible Kai Winding TrombonesKai Winding – The Incredible Kai Winding Trombones
  • Benny Carter and His Orchestra – Further DefinitionsBenny Carter and His Orchestra – Further Definitions
  • Curtis Fuller – Soul TromboneCurtis Fuller – Soul Trombone
  • Gary McFarland – Point of DepartureGary McFarland – Point of Departure
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath