JJ Johnson (1924-2001) is considered to be one of the greatest trombonists in jazz history. Indeed, Steve Turre says “J.J. Johnson did for the trombone what Charlie Parker did for the saxophone.” It’s now Johnson’s centennial year and New York based trombonist and composer Nick Finzer has celebrated the anniversary with a new album, Legacy.
Joining him are three of Johnson’s former band mates who toured with him in the 1980s and 90s. They are pianist Renee Rosnes, who‘s played and recorded with Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson and Ron Carter; bassist Rufus Reid (Andrew Hill, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Lee Konitz et al) and drummer Lewis Nash, who’s played with Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Oscar Peterson and Sonny Rollins and many more.
Finzer, (Wynton Marsalis, Anat Cohen, Dafnis Prieto and Alexa Tarantino) is assistant professor of jazz trombone at North Texas University. He’s released seven albums as band leader prior to Legacy. The new album comprises four of Johnson’s compositions, one from Renee Rosnes which Johnson adopted in his performances and two Finzer originals that epitomise Johnson’s style.
The album opens with Johnson’s Say When with rousing trombone from Finzer, Rosnes sprightly on piano and robust bass and drums. Shortcake, also by Johnson, has sleek trombone and tasteful piano. It’s followed by Arthur Johnson’s (no relation) Pennies From Heaven with walking bass from Reid, wide-ranging trombone, rhythmic drums from Nash and smart piano solo. Next is Johnson’s Lament with highly melodic trombone, a ballad covered by Miles Davis in his 1957 album Miles Ahead.
Fatback, the fourth of the JJ Johnson pieces, has a soul-jazz feel to the delivery and a smart piano and trombone dialogue. It’s followed by the first of Finzer’s compositions, That Thing, which he conveys in Johnson style. Next, Malaga Moon, the composition penned by Rosnes which became part of Johnson’s repertoire, is played elegantly by all. Then, to close, is Finzer’s second piece on the album, the bright and swinging CC with imaginative piano, dynamic trombone and feisty drums.
It seems fitting that Legacy was recorded at the same Rudy Van Gelder studios where Johnson himself recorded many of his albums.
Discography
Say When; Shortcake; Pennies From Heaven; Lament; Fatback; That Thing; Malaga Moon; CC (44.26)
Finzer (tb); Renee Rosnes (p); Rufus Reid (b); Lewis Nash (d). Van Gelder Studios, New Jersey, 6 May 2023.
Outside In Music 2406
