Music Of J.j.Johnson

The CD opens with a tune from J.J.'s Standards recording, Live at the Village Vanguard. Sweet Georgia Gillespie was written over the changes to Sweet Georgia Brown, and pays tribute to Dizzy Gillespie's composition Salt Peanuts. The tune was written and performed to showcase the drummer, and true to the original, we feature Dave Taylor on the drums. His brush work will conjure up visions of Ed Thigpen, Clayton Cameron and more. This swinging arrangement spreads the scant melody throughout the six trombones before going into a series of solos. First up is Ron Kischuk, followed by Al Duncan, Jeff Halsey and finally Gene Smith. This arrangement concludes with a repeat of the melody and a not so traditional jazz stinger on the end. Blue Nun is one of the bone quartet tracks on the disc. The tune was released on J.J.'s Concepts In Blue record. This track features Ed. Gooch and Ron Kischuk (with plunger) and uses a transcribed J.J. chorus as an interlude between soloists. Matt Michaels plays a nice laid back solo before the repeat of the head and out. Lament is J.J.'s most well known composition. For that reason we have chosen not to single out any individual soloists, and instead honor J.J. with the ensemble performance of this beautiful ballad. The arrangement also visits a little bit of Slide Hampton's World of Trombones with it's harmonic colors. Why Not is from J.J.'s modal bag. It was performed on the Live Yokohama Concert record with Nat Adderly in 1977. This arrangement is laid out to give plenty of openness to the soloists. The opening allows Dave Taylor a little space on drums. Al Duncan's J.J. influenced choruses, are followed by Gene Smith, Ron Kischuk and lastly, Matt Michaels on the piano. In Walked Horace comes from J.J. Inc. in 1960. This breezy chart starts with a short intro followed by stop time trombones. You get a slight curve with the bass solo up first, but Jeff Halsey's skillful improvisation insures that it's not a distraction. The bass solo is followed by a rousing couple of choruses by Gene Smith before Horace walks back out. My Old Flame is the only composition on the record not written by J. J. He wrote very few ballads, but certainly enjoyed playing them. His version of this tune on Trombone Master is exquisite, and helped motivate us to make this selection. The ballad features Ron Kischuk throughout, and some back and forth lead swapping with Gene Smith. Matt Michaels plays a great half chorus taking us back to the trombones at the bridge and down to a short closing cadenza. Jevin is a Modal waltz, also from the Yokohama Concert recording. This arrangement was written to feature Jeff Halsey. He has the melody at the top, layered with piano. The trombones are stacked building up to the solo section. The melody is followed by soloists Ed Gooch, Ron Kischuk and back to Jeff on the bass. Kischuk and Halsey trade eights and then fours with Dave Taylor on the drums before the tune unwinds down to a slow halt. The disc closes with Wee Dot, a tune J.H. recorded in December, 1947, with Leo Parker. This was a remarkable period when J.J. recored six feature records over a fourteen day span. The tune is a simple blues jam that starts with Matt Michaels again on piano. He is followed on trombone by Gene Smith and then Ed Gooch, including a little stop time. Another J.J. chorus is used as an interlude before Ron Kischuk's plunger muted solo. The arrangement builds to a full climax in order to leave you wanting more. We hope it works and that you enjoy the Masters of Music Trombones and our tribute to the music of J.J. Johnson. J.J. Johnson was and is one of the most influential trombonists in history. Virtually every trombone player today owes something to him. His influence is so ingrained in today's players that it is part of the underlayment of all jazz trombone solos. J.J. recorded over 50 jazz records as leader, co-leader and sideman. As much as J.J.'s remarkable jazz skills are recognized, not nearly enough attention has ever been paid to his compositional skills. He wrote for television and films in Hol