ENDEIT
J. J. Johnson
Photo: H. N. White Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Drummers · 1924–2001

J. J. Johnson

American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger (1924–2001)

Born
22 January 1924
Indianapolis
Died
4 February 2001
Indianapolis
Country
United States
Active
1942–1996
Record labels
Blue Note, Columbia Records, Philips Records, Prestige, Savoy Records
Discography
38 albums

Biography

J. J. Johnson was a jazz musician who played drum kit and trombone. J. J. Johnson was born on 22 January 1924 in Indianapolis and died on 4 February 2001 in Indianapolis. The music is usually filed under jazz, bebop and hard bop. Record labels: Blue Note, Columbia Records, Philips Records and Prestige. The discography here lists 38 albums, from “Jay Jay Johnson with Clifford Brown, Jimmy Heath, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke” (1953) to “Jay Jay Johnson” (2024). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters and Paul Acket Award.

J. J. Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger. Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

Jay Jay Johnson with Clifford Brown, Jimmy Heath, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke 1953
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 1 1955
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 2 1955
Trombone for Two 1955
Blue Trombone 1957
Dial J.J. 5 1957
First Place 1957
Trombone and Voices 1960
J.J. Inc. 1961
J.J.! 1965
Proof Positive 1965
The Cape Verdean Blues 1965
Goodies 1966
The Total J.J. Johnson 1967
Betwixt & Between 1969
Stonebone 1970
Man and Boy 1971
Across 110th Street 1972
Cleopatra Jones 1973
First Place 1974
Willie Dynamite 1974
Yokohama Concert 1977
A Date in New York 1979
Concepts in Blue 1981
Things Are Getting Better All the Time 1984
Quintergy: Live at the Village Vanguard 1991 · Live
Standards: Live at the Village Vanguard 1991 · Live
J.J. Johnson's Jazz Quintets 1992
Vivian 1992
Let's Hang Out 1993
Tangence 1995
The Brass Orchestra 1997
Heroes 1999
Pinnacles 1999
Chain Reaction 2002 · Live
J.J.'s Broadway 2003
Jay Jay Johnson 2024
The Great Kai & J. J. (2025 Remaster)

Also plays on

Albums where J. J. Johnson is credited as a sideman

1952 Young Man With a Horn — Miles Davis trombone
1953 Miles Davis, Vol. 2 — Miles Davis trombone
1956 The Champ — Dizzy Gillespie trombone
1957 School Days — Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson & Joe Carroll trombone
1958 Lady in Satin — Billie Holiday trombone
1963 Quiet Nights — Miles Davis trombone
1968 What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong trombone
1972 Ella Loves Cole — Ella Fitzgerald trombone
1978 Dream Dancing: Ella Fitzgerald & Cole Porter — Ella Fitzgerald trombone

Standards written by J. J. Johnson

TitleKeyFormGroove
Elora B♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Lament F minor ABAC · 32 Ballad
Shutterbug G minor A · 20 Up-tempo swing

Analysed solos by J. J. Johnson

Studied with

Fats Navarro 1923–1950 · American jazz trumpeter (1923–1950)

Teacher of

Curtis Fuller 1934–2021 · American jazz musician (1932–2021)

Awards

Historic 78 rpm records

  • Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic Heyman · Hines · J. J. Johnson · Norman Granz · Jack McVea · Lee… archive.org ↗
  • Blues, Pt. 2; Blues, Pt. 3 Les Paul · Johnny Miller · Lee Young · Illinois Jacquet · J. J… archive.org ↗
  • Body And Soul, Part 1; Body And Soul, Part 2 Heyman · Sour · Eyton · Norman Granz · Illinois Jacquet · Jack McVea… archive.org ↗
  • Jazz at the Philharmonic Caesar · Jack McVea · Les Paul · Palmer · Williams · "Shorty Nadine"… archive.org ↗
  • Charlie's Wig Charlie Parker Quintet · Miles Davis · J. J. Johnson · Duke Jordan ·… archive.org ↗
  • LESTER LEAPS IN, Pt. I Jack McVea · Illinois Jacquet · J. J. Johnson · "Shorty" Nadine ·… archive.org ↗
  • TEA FOR TWO Illinois Jacquet; Jack McVea · J. J. Johnson · Les Paul · "Shorty… archive.org ↗
  • TEA FOR TWO Illinois Jacquet · Jack McVea · J. J. Johnson · Les Paul · "Shorty… archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did J. J. Johnson play?

J. J. Johnson is known for playing drum kit and trombone.

When and where was J. J. Johnson born?

J. J. Johnson was born 22 January 1924 in Indianapolis.

What are J. J. Johnson's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Jay Jay Johnson with Clifford Brown, Jimmy Heath, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke (1953), The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 1 (1955), The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 2 (1955), Trombone for Two (1955) and Blue Trombone (1957).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.