J.J. Johnson

[farzona49999]

what song are they playing? what is it called?

[icecreamforcrowhurst]

This isn't 'Laura' it's 'Just Friends'

[cyclingcmwdcw]

1 of the all time greatest jazz players



[shoegazer666]

JJ Johnson is such a bad influence on trombonists. He uses too many stock repetitive licks that are out of context and sound unnatural. I do hope future teachers do not take him as the trombone messiah he isn't.

[donpierce101]

@shoegazer666 JJ did have his own sound and own technique. That is what sets him apart. Regardless of if he had 4 "stock" licks that he played over and over or if he had an endless bag of tricks to draw from, he executed them well. He is a staple when students want to hear what a "Jazz" trombone sounds like.

[chonches]

@shoegazer666

dude, ur trippin!!!!!

[killertromboner]

@shoegazer666 troll

[freeeeeeedy]

@shoegazer666 You're a bad comic. Or a moron. Or deaf.

[mtm055055]

just when it was getting good , it cuts off at 8:09 -_-

[planiglukh]

sad that J.J. had to play with that dam abersol mother fucker sounds like he's playing on a comb. the trombone master sound great as always, patient and deliberate

[jody8526937]

in my mind JJ is the greatest jazz trombonist of all time..I like his timing, rhythm, selections, improv. just everything about his sensibilities of music. His albums from the late 50's early sixties, for me, represent some of the best swinging trombone lead groups I know. And of course I have not heard every trombone player, who has? Greatest of all time can only be an opinion never fact.

[FinnbarTrombone]

greatest tbn for jazz ever

[diegoaalzate]

the bassist's hat is pretty funny

[Trombone1991]

JJ Played a 3B most of his career...

Although around the time this was filmed he switched to a Yamaha 691...

I can't tell what horn it is from the vid.

[LeonardandPaul]

Its the tune "Just Friends"

[jazztrbn77]

JJ always sounded good

[DavePlaysTrombone]

Yamaha YSL-691

[thepeople1325]

WHO PUT MINUS ONE ON HIS COMMENT???

[bpheard]

I'm speechless

[MagicRain505]

Our band director played this in class one day. The entire DVD with Just Friends (apparently aebersold's favorite song LOL) and Autumn Leaves.

[TboneWertman]

i had this movie

[barkinmarc]

that's funny... I have this video! JJ is definitely the man

[cw1194]

Wow, I didn't know that Just Friends was with Jamey Abersold

[mgdrummond]

This is well before JJ retired from playing. But it is in the time I think when he degenerative back problems began. Maybe he was in pain, or maybe he just didnt want to be there. But honestly....there is no bad JJ Recordings. JJ was the Trombone Master...he even titled a CD that. It is a Yamaha Trombone. I am not sure on Model. But its Yamaha the folks who bring you "Fine Musical Instruments and Outboard Motors"

[purplepiratebones]

J.J. Johnson had several sabbaticals from active performing actually.

[andres9685]

i wonder what horn is j j johnson using in this concert ...

[maestrohound]

It most definitely is Yamaha, just look at the tuning slide brace. I think the one he used was a YSL-691.

[petebax1]

Love JJ, never seen him play before real pleasure spent a life time trying to do his Laura right Jimmy is like most teachers, JJ can do better he is bored and I wonder why.

Peter fats Baxter

[schnieef]

It seems to be "Just friens", composed by jj

[freeeeeeedy]

This is not jj at his best - he looks like he's getting on a bit and i think he quit playing for a while at some point before this. A listen through his discography and the fact that he developed his own style with the greats in new york in the 40's places him firmly in the jazz masters category as far as i'm concerned. minor7b5, i'm a jazz trombonist by the way. And i really don't like kenny g. And i do know what a Bb, a locrian and a hole in the ground are. And a sense of humour.

[minor7b5]

OK Freeedy; actually I agree with you wholeheartedly. This is NOT JJ at his best. Sorry for the lack of a sense of humor; no excuse for it, but I can get a little too serious when it comes to my music. Enjoyed talking with you. As for the name; it's the best I could come up with....lol

[steeezmasta]

you tell him fred... minor7b5 sometimes just needs to shut his trap haha

[freeeeeeedy]

5414869 - how on earth could you suggest i'm being sarcastic? I love Kenny's music so much i'm calling my baby daughter Kenny G. And my last name is Whizz. You see, all music that was ever played has been leading to this pinacle of greatness. Bach would be grateful to Kenny for refining his efforts. And before anyone replies seriously to this, can you please go and kill yourself first. Thanks.

[jinuse0010]

Hahaha! are you kidding?

[minor7b5]

if you're not being sarcastic, you're just plain stupid. The tragic thing about Kenny G. is that I think he could play "real" jazz if he wanted to.....hmmmmm; never considered suicide, but that's an awful thing to say to someone. I WAS 5414869, but now I'm minor7b5, but you wouldn't know a Locrian if you fell over one.

[freeeeeeedy]

Nice new name. Suits your obvious lack of humour.

[minor7b5]

don't recognize the chord spelling? lol

[freeeeeeedy]

There's nothinng wrongg with my speelllingg.

[txinpum]

JJ 4ever!!!!

[freeeeeeedy]

Oh guys, use your brains, please. Kenny G is played in elevators the world over because in the event of machinery failure there is nothing better to listen to than 10 straight hours of beautiful, inventive, meaningful, non-squeaky, uncommercial,big-toned, organic, heavy, soulful real jazz. I can just smell the hair gel.....ahhhh.....Genius. A jazz giant. You may disagree, or course.

[5414869]

Thank you for allowing us guys to disagree. Meaningful? Non-commercial? Kenny G. (and I get shivers up my spine just typing the name) is a bloody sell-out. He may have talent, but he has yet to show it. Like George Benson & others, this wanabe is in it for the money. Those of us who actually "play" jazz simply laugh when we hear him play. But you're right about one thing......elevator music!!!!!

[freeeeeeedy]

No! No! No! Kenny G is not only the best sax player to have ever walked the earth, he also runs orphanages the world over for free, swam the atlantic naked, owns seventeen camels - all called Derek, is actually Jesus and can jump tall buildings landing perfectly balanced on his penis. Could any other jazz giant do all that? No! He's the best.

[5414869]

Anyone who calls Kenny G. a jazz "giant" is either very stpid about the whole jazz idiom, or they are being sarcastic! If it's the latter, your sarcasm is obnoxious to my intellectual interests. Don't you know that sarcasm is not an intellectuality, but merely a babbling of the diseased braon?

[waffleboy83]

sweet jesus, kenny g better than jj? what the hell must you be on to believe that, kenny g has a nice tone, wow...he has no chops, non creative, elevator music, jj johnson is real jazz , kenny g's fans are people who dont know real jazz who have been misled by his flashy music.

[haredog62]

The sad thing is that Kenny COULD be real jazz. There are some great trombonists out there, but they're standing on JJ (and Kai's ) shoulders.

[daviska14]

i transcribed jj doing just friends (this tune) and he uses so many of the same licks... he was a god...

[KDFrieds]

Obviously who ever is saying that Kenny G is even a god dam jazz musician does not know shit about music because they guy is a fucking joke. Hes as god dam sellout bull shit soprano sax smooth jazz playing piece

[freeeeeeedy]

Check out Pat Metheny's coments on K.G. It's online somewhere. You'll howl, but he's corect.

[jazzflutist]

Pat Methany's comments are at jazzoasis [dot com]

He seems to be saying that if a musician is good, or world-renowned, you're not allowed to dub your own stuff over top (even as a lark) and sell it. I sense he thinks of Louis Armstrong as God (which he's not).

[5414869]

Kenny G. (ugh) is NOT a jazz musician; he is a jazz parasite.

[minor7b5]

agreed! But can the expletives. They're not necessary.

[freeeeeeedy]

I hear that there's a sense of humour sale on at ebay.

[ScottTrogam]

Kenny G better than J J Johnson?

First off, Kenny G plays Cool Jazz, not bebop. So comparing them is quite difficult.

Second, the two play very different instruments. The most you can say is what Bird did for the Sax and Miles the trumpet is what JJ Johnson did for the trombone. Kenny G is not even in their league.

[freeeeeeedy]

Making meritorious comparisons in this exahlted company is rather facile and irrelevant. J.J. is deep and real and soulful. He was there first. Any subsequent events cannot alter the gravity of this. It's different with Bird. Kenny G is far superior. Obviously.

[birdlives239]

The bird is better, why? well he gave a huge helping hand in the bebop revolution and Kenny G not so much learn and feel music before you put it down remember Bird Lives.

[5414869]

Bird gave a "helping hand" in the bebop movement? Talk about the understatement ofthe year!

[birdlives239]

5414869 is right i said "gave a huge helping hand" is a huge understatement the bird is one of the gods of bebop. But Kenny G still nothing like the Bird. Bird Lives!!!

[minor7b5]

I WAS 5414869; now I'm minor7b5. Kenny G. is terrible.....Bird Lives!!!!! The two shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence.

[5414869]

To compare Kenny G. & Bird is ludicrous. In any case, music in general is not a competition, especially where jazz is concerned.

Bird's contribution to jazz will live on forever; Kenny G. is a sell-out. He doesn't represent jazz in any sense; just another elevator musician

[5414869]

Freeeeeeeeedy. My gawd man; to mention the name of Kenny G. in the same context with Bird & JJ is sacriledge. You obviously don't know what the hell you're talking about. You certainly don't know a Bb from a hole in the ground. Go listen to som rap!

[macree01]

yeah i aprreciate jj, he is one of the best ever, i just dont really prefer his style over others. I still really like jj.

[manthisisit]

who is the piano player??

[dekarthegreat]

I've seen videos of this group before. I unfortunately don't remember any of the rhythm section's names, except I'm pretty sure the bass player is Tyrone Wheeler.

And macree01, why would you make a comment like that? Can't you appreciate the player for who he is?

[macree01]

Excuse me mjames4208, Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino are just as good, if not better.

[kevinaustin95]

They're all amazing, but each has there strengths and weaknesses.

[purplepiratebones]

Dude, J.J. Carl and Frank are all great, but I'm sure mjames was just paying HOMAGE to the founder of the bop trombone and whom most trombonists owe a debt of gratitude. Its called lineage and Im sure Carl and Frank agree with smiles in heaven.

[freeeeeeedy]

Very good point, well put.

[5414869]

music is not a competition

[XxSaxCannon921xX]

Just Friends! Great song

[raphaelclarkson]

what's the rest of the line up? And what year? Great stuff- JJ is a legend

[cssbone]

It's Phil DeGreg on piano. Not sure about the other guys.

[5414869]

Jamey Aebersold is on tenor sax; also one of the greatest jazz educators alive today. Met him at a jazz workshop in Louisville, Ky

[mjames4208]

the greatest trombonist in our HISTORY

[5414869]

Ever listen to Bill Watrous? J.J. has always been a favorite of mine (especially with Kai), but to say he's the greatest trombonist in history is a little extreme, especially since you haven't heard them all!

[mjames4208]

how do you know who i've heard? don't ask a question and then answer it. it is my opinion the JJ is the GREATEST!

[5414869]

hey James; don't get your water hot. Just listen to whomever & ENJOY. That's what jazz is all about: fun. That's all I was saying; there's no need to make value judgements.

[brassheavy]

@5414869 for sure there (were) are trombone players who can play faster, louder, higher, lower. But there is only one JJ. You hear 4 notes and you know it´s JJ. and that´s makes him unique. So maybe not the worlds best but one of the elite few.

My old time favorites JJ, Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino.

[TheCannedCornbread]

@5414869 While you can definetely argue that there are guys like like watrous, fontana, rosolino etc. You need to keep in mind that they would be around if it wasnt for JJ. He brought the trombone into the be-bop age and for that I believe he definetely the most important jazz trombonist of all time