Search - J. J. Johnson :: The Brass Orchestra

A great CD

NHC543@aol.com | USA | 12/24/1997

(5 out of 5 stars)

"J.J. Johnson is a trombone wizard. It is the best Jazz Brass music I have ever bought. END"

Enough for everyone

jjn | Seattle, WA USA | 03/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A truly great cd. JJ Johnson the greatest trombone player ever(arguably)records this cd a few years before his death. There are noticeable intonation problems once and a while but I'm not complaining. He still has that wonderful sound as well as his artistic solo ideas.-As a trumpet player myself I was very happy to see that Jon Faddis was in the group as well as Lew Soloff(I think). Faddis though is a great section player, as well as soloist. His highnote playing is on most of the tracks. Faddis is though I think besides maybe Arturo sandoval who can actually play music in that high range. Warm full tone in all registers especially the high register.-An excellent orchestra, an excellent cd. Reminds me of the Miles Davis ones(Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess). Buy this cd!"

BRILLIANT BRASS ORCHESTRAL MASTERPIECE !!

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 12/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five MAXIMIZED Stars!! If brass orchestras are your thing, this is the one to get! J.J. Johnson, arguably the premier jazz trombonist of all time, with an outstanding group of brass players, wonderful compositions, and thrilling arrangements. Happily in this recording, probably the last before his death, he looks back to some of his most scintillating compositions. All the way back to "El Camino Real" from the old RCA recording "J.J." and to the Miles Davis recording that introduced us to J.J.'s "Enigma", one of the most beautiful ballads in jazz. The brass orchestra is augmented by piano, bass, drum, and harp. Major players are trumpeters Jon Faddis & Lew Solof, Howard Johnson, Robin Eubanks, Joe Wilder, Eddie Henderson, and the rhythm section of Renee Rosnes, Rufus Reed, and Victor Lewis, plus a flotilla of french horns, euphoniums, flugelhorns, trombones, tubas, and trumpets. Conducted by Slide Hampton and Tom Evertt. J.J. is the composer and arranger of most songs.



Pieces D'Resistance begin with "Enigma", a performance for the ages, a true 'Tour De Force', with the song being turned inside out and upside down over turbulent 'sheets of sound' of the swirling brass section. It's great how they use echos of "Fascinating Rhythm", integrated with the song's chord changes. This is a thrilling performance that will stand up over the years, demanding repeated listenings.



"Why Indianiapolis..." is another great performance. J.J. and super sax man Dan Faulk are front and center with Faulk leading the proceedings. HIs solo is AMAZING as he careens around the chord changes like a rock skipping over a pond: twisting, turning, flipping upside down and righting himself again. It's quite a fabulous and inventive improvisational performance, with J.J. goading him on throughout.



This CD is absolutely loaded, with 14 fully developed arrangements and outstanding performances by all soloists. I love JJ's muted theme statement and solo on "Wild in the Wind", with a slow tempo that takes us into the mid-day storm and out into the sunlight again. "Cross Currents" and "Canonn for Bela" are fabulous performances. All ends with Miles' "Swing Spring" the brilliantly performed 'cat and mouse' song that ended the "J.J." album of three decades ago. A 'must have' for the essential jazz collection and it gets my Highest Recommendation. Five Stars are not enough. I'd give this SIX."