Nick Finzer: A Celebartion of J.J. Johnson

J.J. Johnson was one of the most admired jazz trombonists of the post-war years. In addition to playing with a superb technique and tone, he brought a certain elegant soul to the instrument as a solo artist. Johnson began recording in 1942 with the Benny Carter Orchestra, and then had a stint with Count Basie in 1945 and early 1946. Later that year, in Juje, he led his own bebop quintet for Savoy Records. Known then as Jay Jay Johnson's BeBoppers, the group included Cecil Payne (as), Bud Powell (p), Leonard Gaskin (b) and Max Roach (d).

Johnson then recorded with Charlie Parker for Dial in New York, led another bop quintet in 1947 and was a Metronome All-Star in 1949. Later that year, he was on Sonny Rollins first recording session with Babs Gonzales and Tadd Dameron's tentet on one day and Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool session the next, both for Capitol.

In the 1950s he recorded relentlessly as a leader and sideman and was frequently paired on LPs with trombonist Kai Windingr. Into the 1960s and beyond, Johnson was a prolific recording artist and performer. Throughout, he also maintained his singular bouncy style, clear,  pronounced tone and fleshy sound on notes that gave him both an urgency and heart. Three of his best-known standards are Wee Dot, Lament and Enigma.

Now trombonist Nick Finzer has done the impossible: He has recorded a tribute album playing in the J.J. style. He's backed by a knockout trio, featuring Renee Rosnes on piano, Rufus Reid on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. Most of the eight songs on Legacy: A Centennial Celebration of J.J. Johnson (Outside in Music) were played and recorded by Johnson. Renee Rosnes composed track No. 7 that was recorded by Johnson in 1994.

The album is solid all the way through. Finzer is a spectacular player who took on a bear of an artist. The same can be said for Renee (one of today's finest jazz pianist), Rufus and Lewis. Monsters all. Fans of J.J. Johnson will likely wish specific songs were included by this ensemble. For me, that would be Quincy Jones's Funk Junction, which appears as an obscure instrumental on a King Pleasure album. And Second Chance from J.J.'s Broadway. Then again, neither was composed by Johnson, but still.

J.J. Johnson died in 2001. He was 77.

JazzWax clips: If you are unfamiliar with J.J. Johnson, let me provide you with a track to groove your ears for the clips that follow. Here's Say When from The Total J.J. Johnson in 1966...



Here's the same song by Nick Finzer...



Here's Johnson's lovely ballad, Lament...



And here's Short Cake...