JJ Johnson-Trombone Legend

Mike G. on 11 24, 2009

JJ Johnson (born James Louis Johnson) in Indianapolis, Indiana, (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), was a United States jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.
Johnson was one of the first trombonists to embrace bebop music. He has long been regarded as one of the leading trombonists of the post-swing era, exerting a pervasive influence on other jazz musicians.
Johnson’s work in the 1940s and 1950s demonstrated that the slide trombone could be played in the bebop style. Contemporary 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. Several of his compositions, including “Wee Dot”, “Lament”, and “Enigma” have become jazz standards.
From the mid-1950s on, Johnson was a perennial polling favorite in jazz circles, even winning “Trombonist of the Year” in Down Beat magazine during years he wasn’t active. In 1970 he ceased performing in public before making a comeback in the late 1980s. He was voted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 1995.

JJ JohnsonJJ Johnson (born James Louis Johnson) in Indianapolis, Indiana, (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), was a United States jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.

Johnson was one of the first trombonists to embrace bebop music. He has long been regarded as one of the leading trombonists of the post-swing era, exerting a pervasive influence on other jazz musicians.

Johnson’s work in the 1940s and 1950s demonstrated that the slide trombone could be played in the bebop style. Contemporary 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”. Several of his compositions, including “Wee Dot”, “Lament”, and “Enigma” have become jazz standards.

From the mid-1950s on, Johnson was a perennial polling favorite in jazz circles, even winning “Trombonist of the Year” in Down Beat magazine during years he wasn’t active. In 1970 he ceased performing in public before making a comeback in the late 1980s. He was voted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 1995.

This article was contains information referenced by wikipedia

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