Captured in performance at the 1956 American Jazz Festival in Newport, RI. Brubeck plays with his quartet, with Paul Desmond on saxophone, Norman Bates on bass, and Joe Dodge on drums; and Johnson and Winding are accompanied by Dick Katz on piano, Bill Crow on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A great set that brings together early material that trombone giant JJ Johnson cut for Blue Note as a leader – sides that already mark his approach to the instrument as one of the most distinct of the time, and which pave the way for all the greatness that Johnson would bring to jazz in years to come! JJ's got a way of blowing his horn here that's almost trumpet-like at time – tight and focused, and perfect for the young bop generation – as he's paired on these cuts with players who include Hank Mobley and Jimmy Heath on tenor, Clifford Brown on trumpet, and either Wynton Kelly, John Lewis, or Horace Silver on piano, depending on the volume. There's plenty of other great surprises too – including a bit of bass from Charles Mingus, on a few cuts that also feature congas from Sabu Martinez – plus drums from Kenny Clarke on all tracks too. Titles on this first volume include include "Turnpike", "Sketch 1", "Capri", "Lover Man", "Get Happy", and "Coffee Pot". CD features alternate takes, too. CD

A great set that brings together early material that trombone giant JJ Johnson cut for Blue Note as a leader – sides that already mark his approach to the instrument as one of the most distinct of the time, and which pave the way for all the greatness that Johnson would bring to jazz in years to come! JJ's got a way of blowing his horn here that's almost trumpet-like at time – tight and focused, and perfect for the young bop generation – as he's paired on these cuts with players who include Hank Mobley and Jimmy Heath on tenor, Clifford Brown on trumpet, and either Wynton Kelly, John Lewis, or Horace Silver on piano, depending on the volume. There's plenty of other great surprises too – including a bit of bass from Charles Mingus, on a few cuts that also feature congas from Sabu Martinez – plus drums from Kenny Clarke on all tracks too. Titles on this this second volume include "Daylie Double", "Groovin", "Viscosity", "Coffee Pot", "It's You Or No One", and "Jay". CD

JJ Johnson's always a cooker, but during the late 50s he cut some incredible records for the Columbia label – tight bop sessions that still stand as some of his best work! This album's one of them – a real smoker of a set that features Johnson's trombone as the only lead horn in a cool quartet that also includes Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Max Roach on drums – a crackling rhythm trio who make the record move a lot more than most other jazz sessions on Columbia at the time! Johnson's sense of tone and phrasing is wonderful – unadorned by any other horns, but a very powerful solo vehicle, especially in the company of the other players – and titles include "Harvey's House", "That Tired Old Routine Called Love", "Nickels & Dimes", "Be My Love", "Paul's Pal", and "Commutation". LP, Vinyl record album

A lesser-known later album from JJ Johnson – but a surprisingly great one too, recorded with a sense of fire and inspiration that's no doubt driven by the mighty Al Grey! At the time of this set, Johnson was hardly recording much jazz at all – but Grey was still burning strong, and managed to hold onto the soulful modes of his 60s years. Johnson produced the record, and most likely handled the charts – and the record shows his strong work in the studio through the late 60s into the 70s, with a tightness that's different than some of the other Pablo albums of the era. Other players include Ray Brown on bass, Kenny Barron on acoustic and electric piano, Mickey Roker on drums, and Dave Carey on percussion – and titles include "Soft Winds", "Let Me See", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "Boy Meets Horn", "Doncha Hear Me Callin To Ya", and "Things Are Getting Better All The Time". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent early recordings from the team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding – the kind of sides that always remind us how great their twin trombone work could be! The album's lacking the cliches of later albums, and presents both players at their best – soulful and stripped down, grooving in a few different groups – with players who include Billy Bauer on guitar, Leo Parker on baritone, and Charles Mingus on bass. The album also features a solo track by each – and titles include "Coop", "The Major", "Lament", "Bernie's Tune", and "Blues For Trombones". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-grooving stuff from JJ – played with a lot more bite than usual, and recorded live with a group that features Nat Adderley on cornet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums! Tracks include "Now's The Time", "Misterioso", "Walkin", and "Tune Up" – jazz standards, mostly, but done very tightly by the group! LP, Vinyl record album

Prime selections from one of the greatest soundtracks of the blacksploitation era – served up with some incredible grooves from maestro JJ Johnson! Martha Reeves sings some of the deepest vocals of her career on the great title track "Willie D" – an old sample cut that you're sure to recognize – and the equally great "Keep On Moving On". The instrumental tunes might be even better, filled with great percussion and jazzy flourishes from JJ – in a style that really keeps things interesting! This 2 x 7" single set features the cuts "Willie D", "Willie Chase", "Keep On Moving On", and "Parade Strut". 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the key efforts from JJ Johnson's comeback years of the early 90s – a session recorded with some excellent tenor work from Ralph Moore and Jimmy Heath – both of whom cut a groove nicely next to JJ's trombone! The style here is almost an extension of the best Johnson work as a leader from the 60s – with some tunes that crackle in a soul jazz energy, next to others that are a bit more introspective and deeply arranged. Other players include Rene Rosnes and Stanley Cowell on piano, Victor Lewis and Lewis Nash on drums, and Terence Blanchard on trumpet – and titles include the originals "Hasten Jason", "Syntax", "May I Have Dis Dance", "Friendship Suite", "Stir Fry", and "Kenya". CD

JJ Johnson on trombone, Ralph Moore on saxophone, Stanley Cowell on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. CD

Great 60s RCA work from JJ Johnson – featuring some of his sublime arrangements for big band! CD

One of the flashiest Columbia sessions from the team of Kai Winding and JJ Johnson – but also one of the best! The record almost borders on gimmicky – with an 8-piece trombone section, and use of the unusual trombonium instrument – but thanks to some deft arranging, the sound is relatively tight without being goofy – and the pair manage to push the use of the trombone in jazz to new levels without resorting to silly tricks, as on Hi Fi albums of the period. Other trombonists include Urbie Green, Eddie Bert, and Jimmy Cleveland – and titles include "Rise N Shine", "Night In Tunisia", "No Moon At All", "Jeanne", "You're My Thrill", "Four Plus Four", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy stuff – one of 2 albums cut by the Kai and JJ team for CTI in the early days! The album's a mellow mix of jazz and easy – with larger arrangements by Kai, JJ, and Don Sebesky – all exploring the more spacious side of things, as either of the main players solo over the top on trombone. The style's a great one to breathe new life into the team – and is even more wonderful if you dig the early CTI sound from their A&M years! Titles include "Israel", "Catherine's Theme", "Django", "Never My Love", and "Am I Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

A slightly larger group, which gives Johnson a chance to show off his arranging skills – but a set that also leaves plenty of room for solos too! Features JJ Johnson on trombone, Clark Terry on trumpet, Ernie Watts on tenor and alto, and Pete Jolly and Billy Childs on keyboards! CD

One of JJ's best from the late 50s – a tightly crackling hardbop set, recorded very much in the manner of his classic JJ Inc album! The sound here is a bit more compact overall – with some shorter tracks that really allow Johnson to display his keen sense of economy on his horn, while working in a burning mode that recalls some of his best bop sides from the early years – particularly his work on Blue Note. Bobby Jaspar's in the frontline with JJ – playing both tenor and flute – and rhythm is from a trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Wilbur Little on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Jones' touch on the kit gives the album a nicely dancing feel throughout – and is a real reminder of his simple genius in an early setting like this. Titles include "Bird Song", "Blue Haze", "Old Devil Moon", "Tea Pot", "Barbados", "Cette Chose", and "So Sorry Please". LP, Vinyl record album

A great set that brings together early material that trombone giant JJ Johnson cut for Blue Note as a leader – sides that already mark his approach to the instrument as one of the most distinct of the time, and which pave the way for all the greatness that Johnson would bring to jazz in years to come! JJ's got a way of blowing his horn here that's almost trumpet-like at time – tight and focused, and perfect for the young bop generation – as he's paired on these cuts with players who include Hank Mobley and Jimmy Heath on tenor, Clifford Brown on trumpet, and either Wynton Kelly, John Lewis, or Horace Silver on piano, depending on the volume. There's plenty of other great surprises too – including a bit of bass from Charles Mingus, on a few cuts that also feature congas from Sabu Martinez – plus drums from Kenny Clarke on all tracks too. Titles on this this second volume include "Daylie Double", "Groovin", "Viscosity", "Coffee Pot", "It's You Or No One", and "Jay". CD

JJ Johnson's greatest album – without a doubt! This gem of a session was recorded in 1960 in New York, with an incredibly hip sextet that includes Cedar Walton, Clifford Jordan, and Freddie Hubbard. The tracks are all long, hip, and very much in a Blue Note soul jazz mode – very unusual not only for Johnson, but for Columbia records as well. The album feels like it should have been issued on Epic, with those killer Dave Bailey sides from 1961 – which might be why it has frequently gotten lost in Johnson's career, hidden amidst some of the sleepier material that seems to see the light of day more often than this one. The album's a stone winner all the way through – and features Johnson playing some of his gutsiest solos ever. Tracks include "Minor Mist", "In Walked Horace", "Fatback", "Aquarius", and "Shutterbug". CD

A beautiful example of the mid-60s power of JJ Johnson – a big band session that features arrangements by JJ, Gary McFarland, and Oliver Nelson – all a very cooking mix of modernism, soul, and swing! The groups are large on all numbers, but there's plenty of room for Johnson to solo out in the lead – in a tightly-blown approach to trombone that almost comes across like a trumpet, given JJ's focus on the instrument. Other horn parts back him up lightly, but never overwhelm – and titles include "So What", "Stratusphunk", "Winter's Waif", "El Camino Real", "Stolen Moments", "Train Samba", and "Bemsha Swing". CD

A beautiful example of the mid-60s power of JJ Johnson – a big band session that features arrangements by JJ, Gary McFarland, and Oliver Nelson – all a very cooking mix of modernism, soul, and swing! The groups are large on all numbers, but there's plenty of room for Johnson to solo out in the lead – in a tightly-blown approach to trombone that almost comes across like a trumpet, given JJ's focus on the instrument. Other horn parts back him up lightly, but never overwhelm – and titles include "So What", "Stratusphunk", "Winter's Waif", "El Camino Real", "Stolen Moments", "Train Samba", and "Bemsha Swing". LP, Vinyl record album

Positive proof that JJ Johnson's one of the greatest trombone players ever – a sublime quartet session for Impulse Records, and one that features some of his most striking, stripped-down work of the 60s! The focus here is really on Johnson's amazing tone and timing – but the record also benefits greatly by a soulful rhythm trio that includes the mighty Harold Mabern on piano, Arthur Harper on bass, and Frank Gant on drums – all free-thinking cats who are never too stiff with their swing, and really match JJ's fluid sense of energy on the record. The whole thing's brilliant – filled with well-chosen tunes and some sublime performances by all players – and cuts include a 10 minute version of Miles Davis' "Neo", plus "Minor Blues", "Stella By Starlight", "Lullaby Of Jazzland", and "Blues Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

A further chapter in the big band years of JJ Johnson – heard here at a point when JJ was pushing his ensemble even more than before, with a fluid groove that almost matches the energy of similar groups on MPS at the time! There's a real undercurrent of hipness going on in the record – a quality that's not content to ape bigger band modes of earlier years, and instead finds a whole new space in sound – a relatively lean quality, but one that still uses the added players to create some magnificent qualities in sound – all to support the well-blown lead solo work by Johnson. There's a nice groove on most numbers, and the album features some especially nice reeds from Jerome Richardson and Frank Wess. Johnson handled arrangements, and titles include "Short Cake", "Space Walk", "Little Dave", and "Euro #1". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Jay Jay's Blues", "I'll Remember April", "There's No You", "Gerry Old Man", "Indiana", "Out Of Nowhere", "If I Had You", "Lisa", "Boo Wah", "Something For Lily", and "Wallington Special". CD

A wonderful pairing of these two modern boppers from the 50s – heard here on a set of rare Parisian recordings originally issued under the leadership of Henri Renaud! There's a really wonderful feel to the record – the sharp edges of Cohn and Renaud's original compositions, played with a great degree of soul by the soloists. Renaud plays piano on all tracks – and the first batch feature both Johnson's trombone and Cohn's tenor, alongside Gigi Gryce on baritone and Jerry Hurwitz on trumpet – on titles that include "Wallington Special", "Lisa", "Boo Wah", and "Something For Lili". Two more tracks – "Once In A While" and "The Things We Did Last Summer" – feature Cohn in a quartet with Renaud. And one more title – "If I Had You" – is presented in a ten minute long take, played by a group that features Johnson and Cohn with Renaud, plus Milt Jackson on vibes and Percy Heath on bass. CD

A truly fantastic record, and one that's become the stuff of legend over the years – a rare CTI album that was only ever issued in Japan – and which may well be one of the coolest sessions recorded during the A&M years of the label! Trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding had recorded two other records for CTI during the period – both great – but this set has them stretching out in this really expansive mode that's completely unique – long tracks put together with complicated arrangements that really blow away anything else they ever did – funky, soulful, but also moving towards higher ideals too – a fantastic testament to the newfound arranging skills of Johnson, who handled most of the record. The group also features some amazing keyboard work from both Herbie Hancock and Bob James – who get plenty of room to roam – plus guitar from George Benson, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Grady Tate – a superb lineup who really make the whole thing shine. The depth of this music is hard to describe in words, but the whole thing's wonderful – and the set features just four long tracks – "Dontcha Hear Me Callin To Ya", "Musings", "Mojo", and "Recollections". LP, Vinyl record album

Magical interplay from the twin-trombone team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding – heard here on one of their key classics for Columbia Records in the 50s! The great thing about the set is the way in which both players really bring a sense of "voice" to their music – trading back and forth almost like two friends chatting in friendly conversation – but managing to do so with a lot more swing than most! Backings are by Dick Katz on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums – and there's a short, simple brilliance to these tunes that's hard to deny. Titles include "We Two", "It's Sand Man", "Give Me The Simple Life", "Turnabout", and "Trombone For Two". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best of the blacksploitation scores of the early 70s – a masterpiece of music that we rate every bit as high as Shaft or Superfly – maybe even higher! The music here is incredible – a surprising funky turn for JJ Johnson, who most folks know for his straighter jazz work – and like Marvin Gaye, Barry White, and others who were surprising the world with their ability to score music for a full film during the early 70s, JJ really knocks it out of the park with this one – coming up with a batch of tunes that are a wonderful mix of sophisticated scoring, creative instrumentation, and some damn funky grooves! The title cut features Joe Simon on vocals, and Millie Jackson sings on the cuts "Love Doctor" and "It Hurts So Good". The rest of the set is instrumental, and other cuts include an instrumental take on "Cleopatra Jones", plus "Go Chase Cleo", "Goin To The Chase", "Wrap Up", and "Airport Fight". LP, Vinyl record album

Groundbreaking work in the field of jazz trombone – a unique 4 trombone session that features the talents of JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green, and Willie Dennis – all set to rhythm by the trio of John Lewis on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Art Taylor on drums! The players all get plenty of room to solo – stretching out nicely on the tracks, and resisting the popular multi-trombone style of ensemble work of the time. The CD features 8 tracks in all – material that was originally released on a two-volume series of 10" albums – titled 4 Trombones. Tracks include "Stardust", "Move", "I'll Remember April", "Trombonosophere", "Ow", "Chazzanova", and "Now's The Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal third stream recording – the height of late 50s modern jazz in all of its seriousness! The album features works written by Schuller, John Lewis, Jimmy Giuffre, and JJ Johnson – all of them larger, serious jazz-meets-classical type numbers – performed by the Brass Ensemble Of The Jazz & Classical Music Society, led by Schuller, but featuring Miles Davis, Joe Wilder, and JJ Johnson as the soloists. It's the solo work that makes the "jazz" component hold out nicely – and titles include "Poem For Brass", "Three Little Feelings", and "Pharoah". LP, Vinyl record album

The famous 50s team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding are reunited strongly here – after working alone for several years on their own projects! The groove here is a bit more open and less arranged than some of the pair's earlier projects – mostly just two trombones in the lead, soloing separately, with backing from a rhythm trio – split into two for each half of the album, with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Roy Haynes handling side one; and Evans, Tommy Williams, and Art Taylor on side two. Tunes are short, but include deft demonstrations of the solo talents of each player – and titles include "Judy", "Alone Together", "Going, Going, Going", "Trixie", "This Could Be The Part Of Something", "Georgia On My Mind", "I Concentrate On You", and "Just For A Thrill". CD

Getz and Johnson are backed by Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Herb Ellis on guitar, and Connie Kay on drums – and the tracks are longish, with plenty of solo room in the open jam session mode of the recording. Titles include "Billie's Bounce", "My Funny Valentine", "Crazy Rhythm", and "Blues In The Closet". CD

Key early recordings from JJ Johnson – a player who really helped transform the role of the trombone in jazz! The set brings together sides that JJ recorded for both the Savoy and Blue Note labels – all small bop sessions, done in a tight boppish mode – with players that include Bud Powell, Cecil Payne, Leo Parker, John Lewis, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham, and Clifford Brown. The set features 22 tracks in all – with titles that include "Jay Bird", "Coppin The Bop", "Mad Bebop", "Audobhan", "Riffette", "Yesterdays", "Down Vernon's Alley", "Bee Jay", "Elysee", "Opus V", "Capri", "Fox Hunt", "Sketch One", and "Turnpike". CD

A great set that brings together early material that trombone giant JJ Johnson cut for Blue Note as a leader – sides that already mark his approach to the instrument as one of the most distinct of the time, and which pave the way for all the greatness that Johnson would bring to jazz in years to come! JJ's got a way of blowing his horn here that's almost trumpet-like at time – tight and focused, and perfect for the young bop generation – as he's paired on these cuts with players who include Hank Mobley and Jimmy Heath on tenor, Clifford Brown on trumpet, and either Wynton Kelly, John Lewis, or Horace Silver on piano, depending on the volume. There's plenty of other great surprises too – including a bit of bass from Charles Mingus, on a few cuts that also feature congas from Sabu Martinez – plus drums from Kenny Clarke on all tracks too. Titles on this first volume include include "Turnpike", "Sketch 1", "Capri", "Lover Man", "Get Happy", and "Coffee Pot". CD

A 12" album that combines sides that JJ Johnson previously issued on Prestige – some as 78rpm singles, some as 10" LP material – all of it very top-level bop modern work from Johnson's first stretch on the scene! There's a sharpness here that really sets JJ apart from other trombonists – that mix of fresh ideas that makes all of his recordings from the time worth checking out – both the late 40s cuts that make up a third of the record, and the additional 8 tracks from 1954 that make up the rest. Other players include Kenny Dorham on trumpet, John Lewis on piano, and Sonny Rollins on tenor for the 1949 sessions – and Kai Winding on trombone and Dick Katz on piano for the 1954 sessions. Titles include "Elysses", "Hilo", "Fox Hunt", "Opus V", "Don't Argue", "Riviera", "Dinner For One", "Wing Bag", and "Hip Bones". LP, Vinyl record album

Positive proof that JJ Johnson's one of the greatest trombone players ever – a sublime quartet session for Impulse Records, and one that features some of his most striking, stripped-down work of the 60s! The focus here is really on Johnson's amazing tone and timing – but the record also benefits greatly by a soulful rhythm trio that includes the mighty Harold Mabern on piano, Arthur Harper on bass, and Frank Gant on drums – all free-thinking cats who are never too stiff with their swing, and really match JJ's fluid sense of energy on the record. The whole thing's brilliant – filled with well-chosen tunes and some sublime performances by all players – and cuts include a 10 minute version of Miles Davis' "Neo", plus "Minor Blues", "Stella By Starlight", "Lullaby Of Jazzland", and "Blues Waltz". CD also features a bonus track – "Gloria". CD

Great late 50s hardbop material – tracks from the albums First Place, Touch Of Satin, Blue Trombone, and JJ In Person! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

JJ Johnson on trombone, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Rob Schneiderman on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. CD

Seminal 50s work from the team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding – two of the greatest trombonists to ever play in one group together, and masters of a uniquely-crafted approach to their instrument! The first six tracks on the CD are from the 1954 RCA album Afternoon At Birdland – one of the best sessions cut by Kai and JJ during the 50's, and a good live session with a lot looser feel than some of their studio sessions – which tend to be a bit restrained. The rhythm section features Dick Katz, Al Harewood, and Peck Morrison – but the main solos are held by Kai and JJ, stretching out nicely in the live space. Titles include "Funnybone", "Cornerstone", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Vista", "Birdland Festival", and "Bone Of Contention". The remaining 12 tracks on the CD are from the albums Jay & Kai + 6 and Jay & Kai Trombone Octet – both larger-than-usual outings for the pair, but still albums done with the twin-trombone sound firmly in the lead! Tracks are shorter than on the live date, and titles include "Night In Tunisia", "Jeanne", "Four Plus Four", "The Continental", "No Moon At All", "All At Once You Love Her", and "Rise N Shine". CD

JJ Johnson and Kai Winding at the height of their dual powers – working together here beautifully at a level that both embraces the modern sound of the trombone in larger 50s ensembles, but also offers up the more fluid personality of the instrument in the smaller combo scene! The pair have a great way of coming together at the start, then splitting off to find their own space on the tunes – a wonderful antidote to some of the too-tight trombone lines of the 50s, and a great reminder that there's always a voice behind the horn. The group on the record features Dick Katz on piano and celeste, plus either Bill Crow or Milt Hinton on bass, and Shadow Wilson or Kenny Clarke on drums. Candido plays a bit of percussion on the track "Caribe" – and the pair play tromboniums on the tune "Tromboniums In Motion". Other tracks include "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", "The Song Is You", and "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

Early Columbia work from the team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding – recorded in their classic twin-trombone groove! Winding arranged the tracks on the set – and the group features Dick Katz on piano, Milton Hinton on bass, and "Shadow" Wilson on drums – plus some bonus congas by Candido on the excellent "Caribe". The other songs are "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe", "The Song Is You", "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

A truly fantastic record, and one that's become the stuff of legend over the years – a rare CTI album that was only ever issued in Japan – and which may well be one of the coolest sessions recorded during the A&M years of the label! Trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding had recorded two other records for CTI during the period – both great – but this set has them stretching out in this really expansive mode that's completely unique – long tracks put together with complicated arrangements that really blow away anything else they ever did – funky, soulful, but also moving towards higher ideals too – a fantastic testament to the newfound arranging skills of Johnson, who handled most of the record. The group also features some amazing keyboard work from both Herbie Hancock and Bob James – who get plenty of room to roam – plus guitar from George Benson, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Grady Tate – a superb lineup who really make the whole thing shine. The depth of this music is hard to describe in words, but the whole thing's wonderful – and the set features just four long tracks – "Dontcha Hear Me Callin To Ya", "Musings", "Mojo", and "Recollections". LP, Vinyl record album

Volume 2 of this hard to find early side on the legendary Debut label – a unique 4 trombone session originally issued on 10"s featuring JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green, and Willie Dennis – with an all star rhythm section of John Lewis on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Art Taylor on drums! Though there's some ensemble lines in the heads, the horn players get lots of room to do their own thing too, taking turns soloing on long takes of "Now's The Time", "Trombosphere", "Ow" and "Chazzanova". LP, Vinyl record album

The famous 50s team of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding are reunited strongly here – after working alone for several years on their own projects! The groove here is a bit more open and less arranged than some of the pair's earlier projects – mostly just two trombones in the lead, soloing separately, with backing from a rhythm trio – split into two for each half of the album, with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Roy Haynes handling side one; and Evans, Tommy Williams, and Art Taylor on side two. Tunes are short, but include deft demonstrations of the solo talents of each player – and titles include "Judy", "Alone Together", "Going, Going, Gong", "Trixie", "This Could Be The Start Of Something", "Georgia On My Mind", "I Concentrate On You", and "Just For A Thrill". CD

With Renee Rosnes on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

Classic bop by Sonny Stitt – material recorded at the end of the 40s, originally issued as singles and 45s, but issued here as a full length set with a great cover image by Don Martin! The record features 2 different groups – one that includes JJ Johnson, John Lewis, and Max Roach; another that features Bud Powell, Curley Russell, and Roach – and in both instances, the players keep a sharp edge and tight focus that allows Stitt's tenor to soar out in those tight lines that made him a key bop figure from the get-go! Really classic stuff – with titles that include "Sunset", "Bud's Blues", "Tea Pot", "Elora", "Afternoon In Paris", and "Blue Mode". CD features 3 bonus tracks! CD

Classic bop by Sonny Stitt – material recorded at the end of the 40s, originally issued as singles and 45s, but issued here as a full length set with a great cover image by Don Martin! The record features 2 different groups – one that includes JJ Johnson, John Lewis, and Max Roach; another that features Bud Powell, Curley Russell, and Roach – and in both instances, the players keep a sharp edge and tight focus that allows Stitt's tenor to soar out in those tight lines that made him a key bop figure from the get-go! Really classic stuff – with titles that include "Sunset", "Bud's Blues", "Tea Pot", "Elora", "Afternoon In Paris", and "Blue Mode". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of rare early work by Miles Davis – all recorded in New York during the years 1947 to 1950 – most of them studio sides, but also featuring a few tracks recorded at the Royal Roost! The assortment of players varies from grouping to grouping, and although Miles' trumpet is in the groups, there's also a stronger focus on the ensemble work on a number of the tunes. Other players include JJ Johnson, Sahib Shihab, Kai Winding, Cecil Payne, Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Stan Getz, and Art Blakey – and the CD features 23 titles that include "Good Bait", "Woody N You", "Bean A Re Bop", "John's Delight", "What's New", "Heaven's Doors Are Open", "Focus", "Phantomesque", "For Europeans Only", and "Big Dog". Some of the material was issued under Dameron's name originally, and a few other tracks are Illinois Jacquet big band titles recorded for Aladdin. CD

A well-done set, and one that stretches from the pre-Verve years of these groupings, to the big run when they were starting to really shine on record! The first half features mid 40s material – with performances from Illinois Jacquet, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Flip Phillips, and Jack McVea on tenors – plus Willie Smith on alto, Buck Clayton and Shorty Sherock on trumpets, JJ Johnson on trombone, Nat King Cole on piano, and Les Paul on guitar. The second half features early 50s material, including three long ballad medley tracks – with performances from Benny Carter and Willie Smith on altos, Oscar Peterson on piano, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge on trumpets, and Ben Webster, Lester Young, and Flip Phillips on tenors! LP, Vinyl record album

A mixture of Verve regulars and early third streamers join together in this one-off session designed as a focus on the writing talents of John Lewis. Most of the material takes off from Lewis' work with the MJQ, and the band includes two of his bandmates from that group, Connie Kay & Percy Heath – as well as soloists Stan Getz, JJ Johnson, Aaron Sachs, and Lucky Thompson. Titles include "Little David's Fugue", "Sun Dance", "Django", and "Midsommer". In a great David Stone Martin cover, too! CD

Charlie Parker on alto saxophone, JJ Johnson on trombone, Fats Navarro and Red Rodney on trumpet, Al Haig and Bud Powell on piano, Curley Russell and Tommy Potter on bass, and Art Blakey and Roy Haynes on drums. CD

Classic bop session work, featuring Bird, Miles, JJ Johnson, Max Roach, Duke Jordan, and Tommy Potter. There's no surprises here, but the playing's tight as a tick, and the short tracks are a fierce declaration of the bop idiom. Titles include "Bongo Bop", "Bird Feathers", "Klactoveedsedtene", "Crazeology", "Don't Blame Me", "Dewey Square", "Air Conditioning", "Scrapple From the Apple" and "Quasimodo". LP, Vinyl record album

As classic as it comes for late 50s Blue Note – and a key meeting between Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk! The group on the set features Rollins and Monk with JJ Johnson, Paul Chambers, and Art Blakey – all of whom push things more in the direction of Blue Note's sound of the time, then Monk's own recordings of the period for Riverside. But the contrast of modes makes for a really startling sound – one that has Monk "monking" it up next to the straighter rhythm section, and bringing out some more modern tones in Rollins' tenor work. Horace Silver plays piano on part of the set as well – but still keeps things strong – and titles include "Why Don't I", "Wail March", "Misterioso", and "Reflections". CD

A great "birth of the cool" album from Capitol – a 10" record that brings together some key recordings from that pivotal jazz year of 1949! Titles include "Imagination" by a large group with Bill Harris in the lead on trombone; "Wow", "Marionette", and "Yesterdays" from a great Lennie Tristano group with Warne Marsh on tenor, Lee Konitz on alto, and Billy Bauer on guitar; "Boplicity" by Miles Davis with JJ Johnson and Lee Konitz; and "Penthouse Serenade", "Extrovert", and "Good For Nothin Joe" by a quintet with Buddy DeFranco on clarinet and Teddy Cohen on vibes. LP, Vinyl record album

The title's no mistake – both in its pluralization and its acclaim for Kai Winding – as the leader here is working with a brace of additional trombones, all in a groove that's one of his most fluid on record to date! The style builds nicely from the sound that Kai and JJ Johnson forged in the 50s – but it's served up here with a sound that's slightly more modern, filled with colors and tones that really deepen the sound of Winding's music! Other trombonists include Jimmy Knepper, Tony Studd, Paul Faulise, and Johnny Messner – playing differently pitched trombones – and rhythm players include Ron Carter on bass, Bill Evans on piano, and Al Beldini on drums – plus some guest conga by Olatunji. Titles include "Speak Low", "Love Walked In", "Mangos", "Michie", "Impulse", and "Black Coffee". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest albums recorded by trombonist Kai Winding in the 60s – a set that follows the larger ensemble mode he moved to after parting ways with trombonist JJ Johnson, yet one that also has some surprisingly groovy elements in the mix! The album was recorded in Nashville, and features the "modern country" promised in the title – as Kai takes on tunes from the Nashville songbook, with help from Bill McElhiney and Grady Martin on the larger charts – the latter of who also plays guitar on record, alongside Nashville legend Harold Bradley! There's some great use of organ at times, which really emphasizes a more soulful vibe in the music – and the Anita Kerr singers come in on a few tracks, with those wonderful harmonies that sound even better in a non-country setting than they do on their standard work for RCA. Titles include "Wolverton Mountain", "Busted", "I Really Don't Want To Know", "Detroit City", "I Walk The Line", "Dang Me", and "Slippin Around". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that showcases a surprising contribution that Andy Warhol made to American music in the postwar years – graphic work done years before his time as a Pop Art icon, or his relationship with the Velvet Underground – from years when Warhol was a more conventional illustrator, and created images for a range of different record covers! Since the images here were more part of a gig, Andy didn't have creative input on the music – yet the covers were often used on the sorts of recordings that showcased important cultural streams of the 50s – on a series of records by Thelonious Monk, Moondog, JJ Johnson, Count Basie, Johnny Griffin, and Kenny Burrell – plus some modern classical recordings too! The set's got a full booklet of notes that illustrate Andy's New York connection to the growing world of the long playing record – with one CD of jazz, two CDs of classical-related material, and one more CD that portrays Andy's New York – with more material from Cecil Taylor, Lenny Bruce, Charles Mingus, Luciano Berio, John Cage, and others. CD

24 songs from Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Boyd Raeburn, Ray Brown, Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Fats Navarro, Serge Charloff, Stan Getz, Charlie Ventura, and George Wallington. CD

The Detroit soul scene at the start of the 60s – music from a time before Motown was dominating the city's reputation, and a whole host of other great labels brought the motor city sound to the masses! The work here is quite a surprise if you're only thinking in terms of Northern Soul and some of the more uptempo Detroit groovers – as the work here burns on so many different levels – often with a style that reflects some of the nascent soul coming out of Chicago on labels like Chess and Vee Jay, the latter of whom is featured here amidst a range of other imprints that include Wand, Atlantic, Scepter, Time, Old Town, and Brent – all of whom released some of these early Detroit soul tracks as singles back in the day. In true Ace/Kent fashion, the set also features a few unreleased gems, plus a wonderful set of notes on the city's soul scene – alongside tracks that include "Nosey Folk" by The Del-Phis, "Answer Me" by Vivian Collins, "Can't We Get Together" by Harry Reid, "Here I Am" by Betty Lavette, "Shakin Fit" by The Pyramids, "That's No Way To Spend My Time" by The Pen Ettes, "Wedding Bells" by Melvin Davis, "You Lied" by Marva Josie, "Think A Little Sugar" by Barbara Lewis, "Just One More Time" by JJ Barnes, "My Letter" by Priscilla Page, "I Know How It Feels" by Laura Johnson, "I'm A Lonely Guy" by Timmy Shaw & The Sternphones, "Come Back To Me" by La Wanda William, "I Cried For My Last Time" by The Sonnettes, and "Tears Running & Falling From My Eyes" by James Lately. CD

Music from Benny Goodman Sextet, Joe Carroll, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ruby Braff & Coleman Hawkins, JJ Johnson, Erroll Garner, Stan Getz & Bob Brookmeyer, Teddy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. CD

Legendary early work from trumpeter Miles Davis – late 40s sessions for Capitol Records that are completely different than the bop material he was cutting with Charlie Parker and on his own! Instead, these sides have Miles working with a complex, more arranged style – built up with a young Gil Evans, in a mode that prefaces the later famous recordings the pair would make in the late 50s for Columbia. Here, the tracks are shorter, but beautifully blend bop ideas with fuller arrangements – and Davis blows alongside other key young modernists in a variety of larger groups – with work from Lee Konitz on alto, Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax, JJ Johnson and Kai Winding on trombones, Al Haig and John Lewis on piano, and Kenny Clarke and Max Roach on drums. Mulligan contributed plenty, too – his ideas on an overall sound definitely helped shape these sides – and the record's go on to legendary status – even though it's very different than most other Miles Davis from the time. Titles include "Godchild", "Jeru", "Move", "Venus De Milo", "Budo", and "Deception". This "complete" package follows up the core tracks with live material recorded at the Royal Roost, even before the original studio sessions – in a group that features Mike Zwerin on trombone with Konitz, Mulligan, Lewis, and Roach – plus a bit of vocals from Kenny Pacho Hagood. Titles include "Darn That Dream", "Moon Dreams", "S'Il Vou Plait", "Move", "Birth Of The Cool Theme", "Godchild", and "Budo". CD