Results for "J.J. Johnson"

J.J. Johnson

Considered by many to be the finest jazz trombonist of all time, J.J. Johnson somehow transferred the innovations of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to his more awkward instrument, playing with such speed and deceptive ease that at one time some listeners assumed he was playing valve (rather than slide) trombone! Johnson toured with the territory bands of Clarence Love and Snookum Russell during 1941-42 and then spent 1942-45 with Benny Carter's big band. He made his recording debut with Carter (taking a solo on "Love for Sale" in 1943) and played at the first JATP concert (1944). Johnson also had led plenty of solo space during his stay with Count Basie's Orchestra (1945-46)

Sencalar/Glassman Quintet: Realization

By HRAYR ATTARIAN

Altin Sencalar and Chris Glassman were classmates in graduate school at Michigan State University (MSU) where they were both trombonist MIchael Dease's proteges. When they decided to release their debut, the exciting Realization, their mentor produced the record, contributed a tune and made a guest appearance on the opening track. For this bop-based session ...

Take Five with Andy Clausen

By ANDY CLAUSEN

Meet Andy Clausen Andy Clausen is a New York-based trombonist, composer, and educator. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he currently serves as Artistic Director for Jazz at New York Youth Symphony. Clausen is also a founding member of The Westerlies, an award winning new music brass chamber ensemble. From Carnegie Hall to Coachella, The Westerlies ...

Paul Dunlea's 4 Corners at Maggie's Farm

By IAN PATTERSON

Paul Dunlea's 4 Corners Maggie's Farm Dromara, N. Ireland January 27, 2020 When you consider that some Belfast venues might struggle to get forty punters for a Monday night jazz gig, it is no mean feat that as many have turned out, in the middle of the Irish countryside no ...

BIG January Birthday Salutes!

By MARC COHN

BIG, I mean BIG January birthday salutes on Gifts & Messages this week: 120th birth anniversary for trombonists Juan Tizol and Wilbur De Paris; 110th for Django Reinhardt; 100th for vocalist Betty Roché and saxophonist Jimmy Forrest; 90th for saxophonist Jack Nimitz, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and pianist/vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery. And special birthday greetings to bassist Eberhard ...

Audrey Ochoa: Frankenhorn

By DAN MCCLENAGHAN

Trombonist Audrey Ochoa's Frankenhorn has a big, bold sound. The set was originally planned as a feature for duets with pianist Chris Andrew, with remixes by electronica DJ Battery Poacher. But things got out of hand, in the best sense of things. A rhythm section and strings and keyboard seasonings were brought into the mix, resulting ...

Michael Dease: Never More Here

By DAVID A. ORTHMANN

Perhaps the most significant thing about Never More Here, trombonist Michael Dease's seventh outing for the Posi-Tone imprint, is the striking polarity of two of the disc's four outstanding tracks, “Mirror Image" and “Blue Jay." In a recording filled with compositions by J.J. Johnson, John Lewis, Jackie McLean and Jimmy Heath, pianist Renee Rosnes' ...

Pianist Helen Sung with Vocalist Charenee Wade at South Jazz Kitchen

By VICTOR L. SCHERMER

Pianist Helen Sung with Vocalist Charenee Wade South Jazz Kitchen Philadelphia, PA December 14, 2019 On this occasion at the South Jazz Kitchen in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Helen Sung, a pianist who is an established contributor to the New York and international jazz scenes, brought ...