J.J. Johnson Quintet 1957-06-14 Karlaplan Studios Stockholm Sweden – Sveriges Radio
A broadcast session this weekend, from the legendary J.J. Johnson, and his Quintet, featuring Bobby Jaspar on tenor sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Wilber Little on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.
J.J. Johnson’s work in the 1940s and 1950s demonstrated that the slide trombone could be played in the bebop style; as trombonist Steve Turre has summarized, “J. J. did for the trombone what Charlie Parker did for the saxophone. And all of us that are playing today wouldn’t be playing the way we’re playing if it wasn’t for what he did. And not only, of course, is he the master of the trombone—the definitive master of this century—but, as a composer and arranger, he is in the top shelf as well.”
The two-trombone jazz combo setup pioneered by Johnson and Winding has been imitated by more recent trombonists, with such combinations as Jim Pugh/Dave Taylor, Conrad Herwig/Steve Davis, and Michael Davis/Bill Reichenbach.
Several of Johnson’s compositions, including “Wee Dot”, “Lament”, and “Enigma” have become jazz standards.
From the mid-1950s on, J.J. Johnson was a perennial polling favorite in jazz circles, even winning “Trombonist of the Year” in Down Beat magazine during years he was not active. He was voted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 1995.
This gig was recorded on June 14, 1957 by Sveriges Radio in Stockholm, the set features the following:
1. Interview with J.J. Johnson
2. Thou Swell
3. Undecided
4. Never Let Me Go
5. It’s Only A Paper Moon
6. A Night In Tunisia
Ending the weekend on a cool note.
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