Musical World of J.J. Johnson

Now in Paperback! J.J. Johnson, known as the spiritual father of modern trombone, has been a notable figure in the history of jazz. His career has embodied virtually every innovation and development in jazz over the past half-century. The first comprehensive biography, filmography, catalog of compositions, and discography of J.J. Johnson.

Joshua Berrett is professor of music at Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York. A specialist in nineteenth- and twentieth-century music, he has published on a wide array of topics, including two volumes on the symphony and articles on jazz and contemporary music in such journals as the Journal of Jazz Studies, The Musical Quarterly, and American Music. Louis G. Bourgois III is professor of music at Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky. He is a specialist in jazz history and discography. His research on J.J. Johnson began in 1973 during his undergraduate studies and resulted in his doctoral dissertation, Jazz Trombonist J.J. Johnson: A Comprehensive Discography and Study of the Early Evolution of His Style. As a professional bass trombonist, he performs with the Lexington Brass Band, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Vincent DiMartino/Miles Osland Jazz Orchestra, and Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra.

Chapter 1 Figures Chapter 2 Foreword Chapter 3 Preface Chapter 4 Chapter 1: Early Years in Indianapolis, 1924-42 Chapter 5 Chapter 2: From Central Avenue to 52nd Street Chapter 6 Chapter 3: In the Inner Circle of Boppers Chapter 7 Chapter 4: Once that record started happening... Chapter 8 Chapter 5: Vindicated and in the Vanguard Chapter 9 Chapter 6: A Shift in Focus Chapter 10 Chapter 7: The Hollywood Years, 1970-1987 Chapter 11 Chapter 8: Why Indianapolis-Why Not Indianapolis? Chapter 12 Appendix: On Peeking into J.J.'s Studio Chapter 13 Epilogue Chapter 14 Bibliography Chapter 15 Filmography Chapter 16 Catalog of Compositions Chapter 17 Discography Chapter 18 Index Chapter 19 Index of Discography Titles Chapter 20 About the Authors