J.J. Johnson - J.J. Inc. (1960) [2014 Japan Jazz Collection 1000]

JJ Johnson's greatest album – without a doubt! This gem of a session was recorded in 1960 in New York, with an incredibly hip sextet that includes Cedar Walton, Clifford Jordan, and Freddie Hubbard. The tracks are all long, hip, and very much in a Blue Note soul jazz mode – very unusual not only for Johnson, but for Columbia records as well. The album feels like it should have been issued on Epic, with those killer Dave Bailey sides from 1961 – which might be why it has frequently gotten lost in Johnson's career, hidden amidst some of the sleepier material that seems to see the light of day more often than this one. The album's a stone winner all the way through – and features Johnson playing some of his gutsiest solos ever. Tracks include "Minor Mist", "In Walked Horace", "Fatback", "Aquarius", and "Shutterbug".


Tracks:

01 - Mohawk
02 - Minor Mist
03 - In Walked Horace
04 - Fatback
05 - Aquarius
06 - Shutterbug
07 - Blue 'N Boogie (bonus track)
08 - Turnpike (bonus track)
09 - Fatback (long version) (bonus track)

Personnel:

J.J. Johnson - trombone, arranger
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone
Cedar Walton - piano
Arthur Harper - bass
Albert "Tootie" Heath - drums