Tag Archives: J. J. Johnson

Kenny Dorham: Afro-Cuban

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In October 1955, “Blue Note” label released “Afro-Cuban”, the second Kenny Dorham studio album. It was recorded January – March 1955, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • J. J. Johnson – trombone
  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
  • Horace Silver – piano
  • Percy Heath – bass 
  • Oscar Pettiford – bass
  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Carlos “Patato” Valdes – conga
  • Richie Goldberg – cowbell 
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

All tracks by Kenny Dorham except where noted.

10″ Vinyl

  1. Afrodisia
  2. Lotus Flower
  3. Minor’s Holiday
  4. Basheer’s Dream – Gigi Gryce

Wayne Shorter

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On March 2, 2023, Wayne Shorter died aged 89. He was musician (saxophone) and composer. He was member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and  Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the band Weather Report. Many of the Shorter’s compositions have become jazz standards and his work earned critical praise worldwide. In 1970, he won “Down Beat’s” annual poll-winner, winning the critics’ poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers’ poll for 18 consecutive years. Shorter recorded and performed with Donald Byrd, Billy Childs, Pino Daniele, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Gil Evans, Toninho Horta, Norah Jones, J. J. Johnson, Don Henley, Wynton Kelly, Michael Landau, Lionel Loueke, Grachan Moncur III, Milton Nascimento, Michel Petrucciani, The Rolling Stones, Masahiko Satoh, John Scofield, Esperanza Spalding, Steely Dan, Bobby Timmons, Kazumi Watanabe, Buster Williams, Herbie Hacock, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul, Freddie Hubbard, Joni Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Jaco Pastorius, Carlos Santana and McCoy Tyner. In 2008, “The New York Times” described Shorter as “probably jazz’s greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser”. In 2017, he was awarded the “Polar Music Prize”. As leader, Shorter released 28 albums.

Oliver Nelson: The Sound of Feeling

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In November 1968, “Verve” label released “The Sound of Feeling” (Leonard Feather Presents the Sound of Feeling and The Sound of Oliver Nelson), the 19th Oliver Nelson album.It was recorded in November 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs and in Los Angeles, and was produced by Creed Taylor and Jesse Kaye.

Personnel:

The Sound of Feeling(tracks 1-5)

  • Oliver Nelson – soprano saxophone, arrangements, conductor
  • Alyce Andrece, Rhae Andrece – vocals
  • Gary David – vocals, piano, marxophone, arranger
  • Chuck Domanico, Ray Neapolitan – bass
  • Dick Wilson – drums

The Oliver Nelson Orchestra (tracks 6-9)

  • Oliver Nelson – arranger, conductor
  • Al Dailey, Hank Jones – piano
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Grady Tate – drums
  • Phil Kraus, Bobby Rosengarden – mallets, additional percussion
  • Jerome Richardson – soprano saxophone
  • Jerry Dodgion, Phil Woods – clarinets, alto saxophones
  • Jerome Richardson, Zoot Sims – tenor saxophones
  • Danny Bank – baritone saxophone
  • Burt Collins, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Snooky Young, Nat Adderley – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Nat Adderley – cornet
  • Jimmy Cleveland, J. J. Johnson – additional trombones
  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Jerry Dodgion, Jerome Richardson – flutes
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Val Valentin – director of engineering
  • Dave Wiechman – engineer
  • Dick Smith – art direction
  • Fred Seligo – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. My Favorite Things – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  2. Waltz Without Words – Gary David
  3. Who Knows What Love Is? – Gary David
  4. Phrases – Alyce Andrece, Rhae Andrece
  5. Circe Revisited – Gary David, Bob Fylling
  6. Ricardo’s Dilemma – Roy Ayers
  7. Patterns for Orchestra – Oliver Nelson
  8. The Sidewalks of New York – Charles B. Lawlor, James W. Blake
  9. Greensleeves – traditional

J. J. Johnson & Kai Winding: Jay & Kai

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In April 1957, “Columbia” label released “Jay and Kai”, album by J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding. It was recorded in November 1955, July – December 17, 1956, and January 1957 in New York City.

Personnel:

  • J. J. Johnson – trombone, trombonium 
  • Kai Winding – trombone, trombonium
  • Wayne Andre, Carl Fontana – trombone
  • Dick Leib – bass trombone 
  • Bobby Jaspar – tenor saxophone
  • Roy Frazee, Hank Jones, Dick Katz – piano
  • Bill Crow, Percy Heath, Milt Hinton, Kenny O’Brien – bass
  • Kenny Clarke, Jack Franklin, Elvin Jones, Shadow Wilson – drums
  • Candido Camero – bongos

Track listing:

  1. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Cole Porter
  2. Caribe – Kai Winding
  3. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  4. The Song Is You – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  5. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – David Mann, Bob Hilliard
  6. Yes, You – Dick Leib
  7. Tromboniums in Motion – J. J. Johnson
  8. How High the Moon – Morgan Lewis, Nancy Hamilton
  9. Violets for Your Furs – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
  10. Too Close for Comfort – Jerry Bock, George David Weiss, Larry Holofcener
  11. ‘S Wonderful – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  12. I Should Care – Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn

J. J. Johnson Quartet: A Touch of Satin

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In February 1962, “Columbia” label released “A Touch of Satin”, album by J.J. Johnson Quartet (the 21st J.J. Johnson album overall). It was recorded in December 1960 and January 1961, at “Columbia 30th Street Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Teo Macero.

Personnel:

  • J. J. Johnson – trombone
  • Victor Feldman – piano, vibraphone, celeste
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Louis Hayes – drums

Track listing:

  1. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
  2. Flat Black – J. J. Johnson
  3. Gigi – Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
  4. Bloozineff – J. J. Johnson
  5. Jackie-ing – Thelonious Monk
  6. Goodbye – Gordon Jenkins
  7. Full Moon and Empty Arms – Buddy Kaye, Ted Mossman
  8. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  9. When the Saints Go Marching In – traditional

J. J. Johnson: J. J. Inc

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On April 10. 1961, “Columbia” label released “J.J. Inc.” the 19th J. J. Johnson album. It was recorded in August 1960, and was produced by Teo Macero.

Personnel:

  • J. J. Johnson – trombone
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Clifford Jordan – tenor saxophone
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Arthur Harper – double bass
  • Albert Heath – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by J.J. Johnson.

  1. Mohawk
  2. Minor Mist
  3. In Walked Horace
  4. Fatback
  5. Aquarius
  6. Shutterbug

Stanley Cowell

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On December 17, 2020, Stanley Cowell died aged 79. He was musician (piano), co-founder of the “Strata-East Records” label, and professor at the “Music Department of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers”, the “State University of New Jersey”. He recorded with many famous jazz musicians including Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Richard Davis, Sonny Fortune, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, The Heath Brothers, Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin, Bobby Hutcherson, J. J. Johnson, Clifford Jordan, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Owens, Art Pepper, Buddy Terry, Charles Sullivan, Charles Toliver, Roland Kirk, Marion Brown, Harold Land, and Max Roach. As leader Cowell released 34 albums.

Chico O’Farrill: Nine Flags

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In December 1966, “Impulse!” label released “Nine Flags”, the ninth Chico O’Farrill album. It was recorded in November 1966, in New York City, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  1. Chico O’Farrill – arranger, conductor
  2. Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn
  3. Art Farmer, Bernie Glow, Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  4. Harry DiVito, Urbie Green, J. J. Johnson, Benny Powell – trombone
  5. Julius Watkins – French horn
  6. Jerry Dodgion, Joe Firrantello, Eddie Wasserman, Frank Wess – woodwinds
  7. Seldon Powell – tenor saxophone
  8. Larry Coryell – guitar
  9. Pat Rebillot – piano
  10. George Duvivier – bass
  11. Gus Johnson, Don Lamond, Mel Lewis – drums
  12. Carl Hard – percussion 

Track listing:

All tracks by Chico O’Farrill.

  1. Live Oak
  2. Patcham
  3. Aromatic Tabac
  4. Dry Citrus
  5. Royal Saddle
  6. Panache
  7. Green Moss
  8. Manzanilla
  9. Clear Spruce
  10. The Lady From Nine Flags

Wilbur Cobb

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On May 24, 2020, Wilbur James Cobb died aged 91. He was musician (drums), one of the most influential and respected drummers in Jazz music. He has recorded and performed with many musicians including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Dinah Washington, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Wynton Kelly, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Gil Evans, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, J. J. Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Phil Upchurch, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, Geri Allen, Earl Bostic, Leo Parker, Charlie Rouse, Ernie Royal, Philly Joe Jones, Bobby Timmons, Walter Booker, Jerome Richardson, Joey DeFrancesco, Keter Betts, Jimmy Cleveland, Sam Jones, Red Garland, Joe Henderson, Eddie Gómez, Bill Evans, Jeremy Steig, Richard Wyands, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop, Jr., Richie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Ricky Ford, David Amram, Donald Byrd, Kenny Barron and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Cobb recorded 17 albums as a leader.

Oscar Peterson: With Respect To Nat

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In December 1965, “Limelight” label released “With Respect to Nat”, Oscar Peterson tribute album to Nat King Cole, who had died earlier that year. It was recorded October – November 1965, and was produced by Jack Tracy.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson— vocals, piano
  • Herb Ellis, Barry Galbraith— guitar
  • Hank Jones— piano
  • Ray Brown, Richard Davis— double bass
  • Mel Lewis— drums
  • Phil Woods— alto saxophone
  • Wayne Andre, Jimmy Cleveland,  J. Johnson— trombone
  • Tony Studd — bass trombone
  • Seldon Powell— alto flute, tenor flute
  • Jerome Richardson— bass flute, tenor flute
  • John Frosk, Joe Newman— trumpet
  • Ernie Royal, Danny Stiles — trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Manny Albam— arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. When My Sugar Walks Down the Street – Gene Austin, Jimmy McHugh, Irving Mills
  2. It’s Only a Paper Moon – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Billy Rose
  3. Walkin’ My Baby Back Home – Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk
  4. Sweet Lorraine – Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish
  5. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  6. Little Girl – Francis Henry, Matt Hyde
  7. Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You – Andy Razaf, Don Redman
  8. Orange Colored Sky – Milton DeLugg, William Stein
  9. Straighten Up and Fly Right – Nat King Cole, Irving Mills
  10. Calypso Blues – Clifford Carmen, Cole, Don George
  11. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry? – Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman
  12. Easy Listening Blues – Nadine Robinson