JJ Johnson - It never entered my mind

[KirbySTompy]

I love how polite and kind people's comments are on jazz oriented videos. Any other style they just attack one another, thanks for the love guys

[KirbySTompy]

who disliked this? Was it a discouraged trombone player?

[dreadtodred]

@KirbySTompy probably so,LOL

[pokerbone]

volume is awfully low. But love love love JJ!

[antitrustmassmedia]

Ralph Moore on tenor sax

[spacepatrolman]

@5061388 A guy a trombone player had a couple of trombones for sale in a garage sale Conn and Olds too bad i dont play trombone

[alextw13jf]

This is sheer poetry; over the years I've been listening to any kind of music possible but whenever I listen to legends like J.J. Johnson I still got goose bumps; he reminds me when I was a child and my father used to play those wonderful vinyl records which consciously or not became part of me.

[sabsaka]

maybe I'm lazy/dumb or both, but who is the sax player? he sounds quite quite good...

[fecarx200]

102 true lovers of listening j. j. johnson....

1 total loser and misplaced!!!

[cbflynn1]

@SpencerCHale It's almost impossible to tell you how to get that sound. Great question, nearly impossible answer. J.J. Johnson is the best. In this video, bizarre as it may seem, he's about as feeble as he ever was (and he's still great!). You get the sound with a lot of breath to the abdomen, then by pushing from there rather than from the chest or, God forbid, the mouth or lips. Deep mouthpieces help, too. JJ is using a thin one here, which he didn't do when he was younger.

[ImaniHekima]

Beautiful performance. J.J. was a very emotive soloist. Do you have the full performance, as I was enjoying Renee Rosnes piano work too.

[hommefriday]

So, so beautiful! Could a trombone please explain how he gets that sound?

[SpencerCHale]

@hommefriday It's a complicated process that's really hard to explain. Basically you just think the sound you want really hard, and keep letting your body figure out how to get that sound as you experiment with air volume and oral cavity shape. Equipment can make that process easier. Some horns are designed to get richer sounds and other are meant to cut more, but a really good player can get the sound s/he wants out of any equipment.

Think about copying a famous singer's voice. You just do it

[hommefriday]

@SpencerCHale I hope that you will always be so kind as to enlighten me in the wonderful world of trombone playing. For example, in the Artie Shaw version of "September Song" there is a very short trombone solo. Question: was that pure improvisation, or was the solo already "pre thought out" ? It is also one of my favourite trombone solos.

[SpencerCHale]

@hommefriday I was not previously familiar with that song/recording. But I found a streaming file online. Are you referring to the short trombone solo intro? That solo is most likely written out. It functions as a bass line to kick off the song. In Artie Shaw and other big band tracks almost every part is written out, except for when one musician (or maybe two) takes a solo in the middle of the track. It sounds like Artie Shaw is the only one improvising over the track. Every else is reading.

[SpencerCHale]

@SpencerCHale Keep in mind, while reading everything I write, that I'm no expert on the topic of jazz. I'm just basing all this information off of what I've learned playing in ensembles and studying both on my own and academically. Hopefully I've got my facts right. And I'll gladly answer any questions you have as a trombonist and musician. I'm an aspiring performer and educator. And I love hearing that someone is curious and wants to learn about the music I love to listen to and play!

[SpencerCHale]

@SpencerCHale Keep in mind, while reading everything I write, that I'm no expert on the topic of jazz. I'm just basing all this information off of what I've learned playing in ensembles and studying both on my own and academically. Hopefully I've got my facts right. And I'll gladly answer any questions you have as a trombonist and musician. I'm an aspiring performer and educator. And I love hearing that someone is curious and wants to learn about the music I love to listen to and play!

[sabsaka]

Bern, 1993.. Where can I get the whole video? I saw there are several chunks, but I'd like to see it all!

[mdhbigdog]

Thank you for posting this great video. Other great trombone players are/were: Jimmy Knepper, Lawrence Brown, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, William Shepherd (played with James Moody), Quentin Jackson, Steve Turre, Grachan Moncur III

[arhatyellow]

to thenormanmu : Well, like yeah man, what a totally hip cat! Also love Kai Winding, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Dorsey, etc. I see the mystery element of the trombone slide - kind of like the way the camera never seems to catch Jimi Hendrix's fingers on the strings, or Eric Clapton on the neck. So sad.... Look at the drummer here - see his face - he is definitely getting the vibe. Jazzerarazzamatazz. Wow.

[arhatyellow]

One of my all time jazz favorites. J.J. Johnson plays with such soul and heart that the first time I heard him - on a Columbia jazz anthology "Fill Your Head With Jazz"- when I was just learning sax, he knocked me over. Same now on every cut I hear. What a giant music man. Thanks for this beautiful ballad.  What a totally hip cat.

[thenormanmu]

@arhatyellow haha hip cat

[adeduction]

@TheRumster - I wrongly said 'the drummer never showed up' because soon after I remembered that he did show up in time for the second set. He probably over slept & they sent someone to get him. It was a long time ago & I remembered I think only because I was a wantabe drummer then & I sat at a table right next to the very small stage near drums (so I could watch the drummer) all the time thinking: I should just get up & sit down on the empty drum chair & pick up the sticks & fill in for him...

[TheRumster]

I still have never heard a trombone player who could play ballads as sweetly as JJ - yet still absolutely kill it on fast bop tunes. THE MASTER!!

[danielsousa456]

soon to be taking drum lessons from his son, the late great kevin johnson. fantastic drummer.

[xnophloglas]

@danielsousa456 late great? it might come as a surprise to kevin that he's no longer with us!

[danielsousa456]

@xnophloglas The late great KEVIN johnson. j.j's son. fantastic drummer.

[xnophloglas]

@danielsousa456 I know who Kevin Johnson is. Late means deceased. My point is, he's not dead!

[danielsousa456]

@xnophloglas My bad, didn't even think about it that way haha. But regardless, Kevin is fantastic.

[xnophloglas]

@danielsousa456 Joe Deal just came out with a CD that features Kevin, along with Steve Corn and Frank Glover. Haven't heard it yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

[danielsousa456]

@xnophloglas Oh man! That'll be great. I'll have to check it out.

[majingaji]

JJ was the first trombonist I ever started listening to. Then I started listening to fast players like Watrous (verrry briefly) and Herwig. Now that I care more about artistry and expression, JJ is where it's at.

[dragon999965]

j.j. johnson rocks

[brewepau]

J. J. Johnson: My trombone hero forever and ever. I experienced the great honor of performing with him on stage in the spring of 1991. Whenever I'm at my best on the trombone, J. J. is always there with me. He wasn't just the greatest trombonist of the modern era, he was a great man, too. I experienced that undeniable fact first hand when I was with him. Thank you, J. J. For me, you will always be The Greatest!

[Trombone1ist]

@brewepau Man!! u r lucky i would love to play with him on a concert

[MelodiousEtude]

johnson's tone is so much nicer and darker from other greats. and that's why we love him.

[Visclemm]

I believe this is: J. J. Johnson (trombone), Ralph Moore (tenor sax), Renee Rosnes (piano), Rufus Reid (bass), Billy Drummond (drums)

[MrGoldenTrombone]

What is this compared with Joseph Alessi?

[75pianist]

@MrGoldenTrombone . alessi its a classical player jj j its a jazz player. are you in music bussines or a butcher?

[MrGoldenTrombone]

@75pianist of course i know that joseph alessis mainly plays classical music. but he allso plays a lot of jazz, in another way than jj j. its up to you what you like most, but after my oppinion alessi gets maximum of music out of the piece. jj is good.. but not the same sound and perfection

[bobbygrounds]

@MrGoldenTrombone ok golden to answer your question.... what is this compared to Joseph Alessi?.... both players are masters of the trombone Alessi would have had a darker sound than J.J. had. I personally think that on this work Alessi may not have been as inventive as J.J. was. Alessi may have a darker sound which to some people is nicer but I personally love the way J.J. does jazz and I don't believe that we currently have anybody else like the jazz greats of old LIke J.J. and Carl and Frank

[reachdanny]

JJ the trombone master! He gave the trombone a real solo voice beginning from the be bop era.

[scotia84]

Space proves to be the rhythm section's friend and my listening ears'. JJ is a master of this music and I miss him before I will even know him.

[HollywoodHogan6788]

Amazing....the world's best horn player.

[biellinovic]

J.J. NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!

[EnriceDreizehn]

what trombone was he playing in there?

[adeduction]

Caught the JJ Johnson-Kai Winding Trombone Quartet wCarl Fontana & Wayne Andre (+rhythmsection) at a Sunday afternoon matinee at the Modern Jazz Room in Chicago when I was 13. I remember that they had to play without the drummer who never showed I guess cause it was too early - 4:00PM. Got all their autographs plus a soft drink for $1.50. The great Bill Harris paved the way for JJ & JJ took his place with JATP. Check out 'Stan Getz & JJJohnson at the Opera House' 1957. It is AMAZING!

[TheRumster]

@adeduction I guess the drummer just didn't wanna play with all bone players, LOL

[89doublebass]

what a solo.....great melody....

[krash726]

I agree with that, i was just disagreeing with the last comment, saying that bone playing was slow and imprecise before him just wasn't neccesarily true. But i totally agree with him pioneering bop on the bone. But swing can be crazy fast and hard depending on the arrangement

[Whatisthescore]

There was this guy who played with parker..he proves you right so wonderful and precise too

[pablito162]

One thing that should be mentioned is that JJ was not only one of the greatest trombonists that ever lived. He is also the father of modern jazz trombone playing. He was the person who single-handedly invented a technique and standard of how to play modern fast styles of jazz. He is the equivalent of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker on the trombone as he was the primary inovater on trombone starting from the '40s and 50s. Prior to JJ 'bone playing was very slow and not precise.

[krash726]

please dont get me wrong here, I'm an enormous fan of JJ, but the comment about prior to him it was slow and not precise is not necessarily true. Think of tommy dorsey, who was definately around before JJ, and he was probably the slickest most precise players I've ever heard. Just listen to him play trombonology, one of the fastest, most difficult pieces I've ever heard on trombone. Once again, please dont take this the wrong way, I love them both equally, but Tommy came first

[pablito162]

I am a huge fan of Tommy Dorsey myself. He is known for his sweet lyrical playing and slide vibrato. The point I would like to make is that Tommy Dorsey and others were "swing" jazz trombonists. They came before the Bebob movement started by Dizzy and Bird etc. J.J. was the first Trombonist to pioneer the fast and difficult language of Bop to the trombone. When the Jazz movement switched to Bebop JJ was the innovator of what trombone should sound like in the new jazz idiom.

[johnnyrob1972]

What a tone!!!Great! My single biggest influence. And a gentleman.

[8ozzon]

At the Opera House is the name of that.

Stan Getz performs this song marvellously on that record where he teamed up with J J , Oscar, Ray and Connie Kay.

[shoegazer666]

hi, i'm just curious.. why do trombonists think jj johnson is the greatest? i mean, he's good but his solos are not very memorable.

[valvetrom]

He is saying something musically. not just dazzling trix. Tastebuds are differrent for each listener,very personally. Also why make Music into something competetive? I Like Teagarden, Knepper,and George Masso.

[shoegazer666]

Memorable solos don't necessarily have to be "dazzling trix". If it's true that tastebuds are different for each listener then it seems that an inordinate number of trombonists have the same taste. I expect that there's a historical-technical reasoning rather.

[valvetrom]

So whats the historical technical reasoning,?

[shoegazer666]

I dunno, that's why I asked :)

[czechnoob]

It's not all about Solos... also about smooth TONE. direct tones... and solos... i heard one, and it was GREATEST I've heard

[brewepau]

J. J. changed everything for trombonists. His influence is still so powerful. I can hear him in my mind's ear more clearly and more beautifully than any other trombonist of any era. Truly one the great musical masters of all time.

[valvetrom]

well said, tell that to shoegazer 666

[dale1966gto]

smooth and soothing, mellow. great tone.

[czechnoob]

SO SMOOTH!! I play trombone, but... I'll Never... I repeat NEVER... could be like him... AXESOME... !! Thank you, master JJ

[dotat]

I'm not sure he would want you to be just like him. there is/ was a clip of an interview on you tube. Where he said something like listen to other jazz players but listen for your own voice inside you we all have one. It's a shame but a lot JJ's videos have been removed Theres not a day goes by I don't listen to some of his playing. I'm learning to play and listing for my own voice inside as the man said to do. Some days I hear it others I don't. But I know its there JJ got me listing for it.

[czechnoob]

Thanks ^^ Didnt knew this...

Anyway... I play T-bone 4 months and i am happy if i play smoothly Blueberry Hill... Now I study my second Jazz clasic, Sains go marching in... But... I hope to be better one day...

[valvetrom]

Do you know his recording with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown: Yesterdays ?

[pedroaristides]

Mr. J. J. Johnson is THE MASTER.

[NateTBone14]

Without a doubt!!!

[tromboista]

Man, If only cameramen were trombone players. A lot of moves you can´t see on the slide. always in the wrong place at the right time.

[hahabass]

What a player! I don't know much about JJ, but everytime I find something featuring him, I'm in awe.