1954 - September 24

J.J. Johnson Quintet – September 24 1954 

 

Leonard Feather: The Eminent J.J. Johnson Liner Notes: BLP 1505 

In this unusual session Jay Jay maintains the musical interest of the group, participating as the only horn man involved and changing the overall sound by the inclusion of Sabu Martinez. Sabu is one of the younger generation in the Afro-Cuban drum dynasty of which Chano Pozo may be said to have been the founding father. Wynton Kelly, the pianist. is a youthful star born in December, 1931, in Jamaica, B.W.I. Both before and offer his Army service, which ended in June, 1954, he was a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s combo. Wynton was featured in his own LP on BLP 5025. The rhythm section is completed by Kenny Clarke and the very able Charlie Mingus. 

Joy is an up-tempo blues in which Wynton, Jay Jay and Sabu are all heard to an advantage and ingenious use is made of modulations. 

Old Devil Moon, a 1946 product of Finian's Rainbow, starts in mysterioso style with a captivating introduction in which Mingus sets a vamp. Sabu keeps busy throughout. Wynton has some very Cuban moments, and generally the tune is invested with a new and unconventional spirit. 

The 1948 song Its You Or No One is a Julie Styne-Sammy Cohn Opus first introduced to jazz lovers by Sarah Vaughan. The unexpected key change in the second eight measures undoubtedly explain why this tune appeals so much to musicians. 

Too Marvelous for Words. Two things to watch for are, first, the fine balance and blend between the two drummers, and second, the effective use of rhythmic breaks of three-beat intervals behind some passages of Jay Jay's solo. 

Coffee Pot, a fast-moving 32-bar original by Johnson, features him on the second chorus accompanied by just Mingus and Clarke. Wynton Kelly’s choruses seem to show some Bud Powell influence, plus his own brand of single-line originality. 

Time After Time was one of the better pop songs of 1947 (you may remember having heard Sarah Vaughan do it). Here it makes a fine solo vehicle for Jay Jay in one of his more melodic moods. 

Photo by Francis Wolff

Down Beat 9 March 1955 Volume 22 Issue 5 

Jay Jay bats 1,000 this issue. On this very well recorded LP, he is given distinguished backing by Wynton Kelly, Kenny Clarke, Charley Mingus, and, on four, the added rhythmic lift of Sabu on conga drum. If more proof were required of the maturely proficient musicianship and easeful versatility of Jay Jay, this is it. He is his assured self at all tempos and with an extended variety of material from soulful ballads to heatedly up tempo originals (including a swinging, authentic-sounding Latin-American Moon.) The two technically demanding originals are, incidentally, by Jay Jay. It’s quite an exhibition of trombone fireworks but more important, it’s all within the bounds of tasteful musicality. Jay Jay has won the right to be considered as among the great men of his instrument in jazz history. (Blue Note LP 5057) 

Session Information 

Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, September 24, 1954 
Jay Jay Johnson, trombone; Wynton Kelly, piano; Charles Mingus, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums; "Sabu" Martinez, congas #1-3,6. 

tk.2 Too Marvelous For Words 
tk.4 Jay 
tk.5 Old Devil Moon 
tk.7 It's You Or No One 
tk.10 Time After Time 
tk.11 Coffee Pot 

All selections released on BLP 5057