Requisites

JJ! In Person is a 1958 studio recording by J. J. Johnson on the Columbia Records label. Tracks | 44:15

1. Tune Up (Miles Davis) – 5:40
2. Laura (David Raksin, Johnny Mercer) – 4:57
3. Walkin’ (Richard Carpenter) – 6:51
4. What Is This Thing Called Love? (Cole Porter) – 6:30
5. Misterioso (Thelonious Monk) – 6:57
6. My Old Flame (Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston) – 3:45
7. Now’s The Time (Charlie Parker) – 8:11

• J. J. Johnson – trombone
• Nat Adderley – cornet (tracks 1-5 & 7)
• Tommy Flanagan – piano
• Wilbur Little – bass
• Albert Heath – drums

JJ! In Person ~ The J.J. Johnson Quintet | By Eddie Carter

The word “deception” as described in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is “the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid”. I mention this definition because it’s significant to begin this week’s review with a live album that isn’t. JJ! In Person (CL 1161) by the J.J. Johnson Quintet is actually a studio recording masquerading as a live album with over-dubbed applause and fake bandstand announcements. That said, it’s not a bad album at all, quite the contrary actually. The choice of classic and contemporary tunes is exemplary, and the musicians assembled for this date are four of the best in the business; Nathaniel “Nat” Adderley on cornet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Wilbur “Doc” Little on double bass and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums.  My copy used in this report is the original Mono Deep Groove LP and trombonist J.J. Johnson gives the introductions for all seven tunes.

The album begins with a fast-paced rendition of Miles Davis’ 1953 jazz standard Tune-Up opening with a brief introduction by Tommy before the quintet comes together to run through the melody. J.J. takes off first with a high-spirited opening statement, then Nat swings just as hard on the second reading. Tommy’s fingers fly swiftly over the keys next, then Heath wraps everything up in a heated exchange with Johnson and Adderley into the reprise, ending and introductions of the band and next tune.  Laura by David Raskin is the title tune of the 1944 film with Johnny Mercer adding the lyrics after the film made the song a huge hit. A favorite of musicians and vocalists since its creation, Laura has been recorded more than four hundred times. This is a quartet feature for Johnson who takes the rhythm section through the midtempo melody completely carefree. J.J. leads off, applying a refreshing airiness to several swinging verses fueled by the trio’s supplement. Tommy follows with a gorgeous account of rhythmic vitality on a brief chorus preceding the trombone’s return for the closing coda.

The quintet returns to full voice on Richard Carpenter’s jazz classic, Walkin’ with everyone collectively cooking on the vivacious opening melody. J.J. states his thoughts economically but effectively on the lead solo.  Nat offers up some brassy fire on a strikingly insightful performance next. Tommy handles the finale with a breathtaking flourish ahead of the ensemble’s climax. The first side ends vigorously on Cole Porter’s 1929 classic, What Is This Thing Called Love? An exhilarating opening solo by Flanagan segues into an effervescent theme treatment by the quintet featuring some brief comments by “Tootie”. Adderley takes over for lively, vivacious reading, then Johnson gives a joyously unrestrained performance. Little and Heath share a brief closing statement preceding the firm beat the song ends on.

The music of Thelonious Monk opens Side Two with Misterioso; the song was written in 1958, serving as a title tune of the Riverside album Monk released that year, and again as the title song for a 1965 Columbia LP he recorded while on tour.  Its definition means mysterious in Italian and is given a bluesy midtempo treatment after the opening chorus. Nat and J.J. are the featured soloists and the cornetist establishes a nice momentum in a relaxed mood. The leader does a happy romp with an exceptionally agile interpretation, complementing the group’s smooth sound throughout this Monk original.

My Old Flame was written in 1934 by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow and featured in the film that year, Belle of The Nineties.  This old evergreen is the second quartet tune featuring J.J. as the song’s only soloist. The trombonist starts the slow-tempo standard in excellent voice with a rich, warm tone producing an intimately tender statement of subtlety that’s absolutely beautiful.  The album concludes with the 1945 blues by Charlie Parker, Now’s The Time, beginning with a collective medium beat on the melody that’s an irresistible toe-tapper. J.J. cruises at a moderate speed, taking the lead solo for a leisurely saunter. Nat preaches passionate phrases that are pitch-perfect on the second performance. Tommy follows with an expertly crafted interpretation of delightful pleasure. Wilbert and “Tootie” exchange one short verse each with the front line, ending the album on an upbeat note. The sound quality on this Mono LP is stupendous because of the amazing acoustics within the Columbia 30th Street Studio. Many of the label’s top jazz musicians and vocalists, Dave Brubeck, Buck Clayton, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, and others used the space to create some of the greatest albums ever recorded.

This album was produced by George Avakian who in addition to his work on Columbia LPs, also produced albums on Decca Records, RCA Records, Warner Bros. Records, and World Pacific Records. The original recording engineer was Frank Laico who worked at both the Columbia 30th Street Studio and CBS Studios in New York City and was also the man behind the dials on albums for Atlantic, Cadence, Colpix, Dot Records, Epic, Reprise, United Artists Records and Verve Records to name of few.  For the life of me, I can’t think of any reason why Columbia felt they needed to label this record a live album when it clearly wasn’t. Anyway, that’s a mystery for another day. As I stated at the beginning of this report, J.J. In Person is actually a very good and enjoyable album. It’s also a title I recommend that’s worthy of an audition for a spot in any jazz library, especially if you’re a fan of J.J. Johnson. There was only the one issue of this album in Mono, the Stereo release (CS 8009) hit the stores a year later in 1959. To hear the album as it was originally recorded, it can be found on the 1996 Mosaic Records eleven LP box set, The Complete Columbia J.J. Johnson Small Group Sessions!

George Avakian, Frank Laico, Misterioso (Riverside RLP 12-279/RLP 1133), (Columbia CL 2416/CS 9216); The Complete Columbia J.J. Johnson Small Group Sessions (Mosaic Records MQ11-169) – Source: Discogs.com

Misterioso, Now’s The Time, Tune-Up, Walkin’, What Is This Thing Called Love? – Source: Wikipedia.org

More Posts: choice,classic,collectible,collector,history,instrumental,jazz,music,trombone