The Essential JJ Johnson Jazz Trombone Interview you haven't heard!

In this week's video I'm very excited to share the audio from a great interview that the International Trombone Association did (by trombonist Tom Everett) did with JJ Johnson in the late 1980's!
I had heard through the grapevine that there were some audio recordings of interviews with JJ floating around out there, and I just had to share it once I heard this one!
Thanks to John Kalafas for sharing this audio with me!
Let me know in the comments below what your favorite parts of the interview are!
Some of my favorites are:
When he talked about Jimmy Knepper
Does JJ Johnson Doodle Tongue?
King to Yamaha
Developing his Sound Concept
LEGACY - A Centennial Celebration of JJ Johnson!
Say When: found.ee/Nick-...
Lament: found.ee/Nick-...
Legacy: found.ee/Nick-...
First up is the project’s debut single: SAY WHEN
Available Jan 19th
featuring:
LEWIS NASH - Drums
RENEE ROSNES - Piano
RUFUS REID - Bass
Ryan Truesdell - Producer
And the LEGACY tour kicks off the same day!
January 19 & 20 - Nick Finzer Guest Artist at the Purdue University Jazz Festival - West Lafayette, IN
JJ Johnson’s Centennial Birthday Week Celebrations:
January 22nd - JJ Johnson 100th Birthday Celebration/Livestream at University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab
January 25th Monks Jazz Club - Austin, TX
January 26th - Steve’s Wine Bar, Denton, TX
March 1st, 2024 - Lament - Digital Single
March 4th, 2024 - Nick at Cameron University Jazz Festival Guest Artist - Lawton, OK
March 21st, 2024 - University of North Texas JJ Johnson Centennial Celebration Concert ft: Nick Finzer, Steve Davis, Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, and the One O’Clock Lab Band
March 23rd, 2024 - JJ Johnson Centennial at the University of North Texas Jazz Trombone Day featuring Legendary Jazz Trombonist and SNL Band Member) Steve Turre
April 5th, 2024 - “Legacy: A Centennial Celebration of JJ Johnson” Album Release
April 8th, 2024 - Radio Add Date
April 10th - Sam First - Los Angeles, CA
April 11th - University of Arizona Masterclass, Tucson, AZ
April 11th - Century Room - Tucson, AZ
April 13, 2024 - The Nash - Phoenix, AZ
with Lewis Nash, Renee Rosnes, Rufus Reid
May 24th - Digital Single Release - Judy (Bonus Track 1)
July 12th - Digital Single Release - Blue Bossa (Bonus Track 2)
With Legacy, Nick Finzer has successfully demonstrated his depth of understanding of and respect for the tradition and history of jazz and its masters. By encapsulating JJ Johnson’s spirit through monuments to both his compositional mark and testaments to his influence over the continuation of jazz composers and performers, Legacy shows that what has passed in jazz past will remain present and powerful into the future.
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[@mustafa1name]

JJ is VERY enthusiastic about his contemporary trombonist Jimmy Knepper @5:11 saying that he heard him warming up playing just one note, and was blown away by the sheer sound concept: "sounds like a french horn...so dark, marvellous... one of the underrated dudes of all time”.

[@NickFinzer]

Yea! So crazy!

[@reggiewatkinsmusic]

Mind blown. Incredible!! Pure gold. Great to hear him talk about his avid admiration of other players .. especially Jimmy Knepper!

[@NickFinzer]

I know!! Totally agreed 👍

[@MrSteve3772]

That’s a great interview. Both men are enthusiastic and have really positive energy when talking. I really enjoyed it.

[@NickFinzer]

It’s great to hear straight from the source!

[@markpatterson8922]

My favorite insight here is JJ’s citing (or: confirming!) Lester as his first indelible influence regarding the linear way of playing, around 9:00-11:00. So much of modern trombone playing seems (in my opinion) to forget that for JJ to get where he did, he reached almost wholly beyond his own instrument. (He does also mention Vic Dickenson as one influence.) Also: “I have a microphone set up at home where I can tape, listen back, and be critical or analytical” and “practice practice practice practice” regarding clarity. “Try to acquire good practice habits.” Also around 36:40-41:00 where he discusses his career changes. And his citing of “A Touch of Satin” as his favorite of his own recordings.

[@NickFinzer]

Thanks for these! Yes there are so many gems in here!!

[@mustafa1name]

Great find! Thanks for sharing, and thanks to John Kalafas for releasing it. It's good to hear JJ's voice. So endearing hearing about the Lester Young fan club in Indianapolis: "The first jazz soloist, and/or stylist, that had a severe impact on me, that was to last for the rest of my life was Lester Young. Long before Bird and Diz, at High School in Indianapolis, we were all 'Lester Young-a-holics'." “Lester Young was the first one who left an indelible mark on me that relates to the linear way of playing.” Hilarious how the interviewer (bass trombonist Tom Everett) throws shade on Oboe players @4:11

[@NickFinzer]

🙌🙌

[@TheLazyTrombonist]

My favorite part of the interview is hearing the story of how Benny Green was not interested in partnering with JJ. This is a story that I had never heard and otherwise would’ve never known… As many layers to the scene back then!

[@NickFinzer]

So true!

[@dennisfischette4835]

Reminds me of the title of a Delfeayo Marsalis album with his father, Ellis: "The Last Southern Gentleman". J.J. is perhaps "The Last Midwestern Gentleman". His intellect, wisdom, humility, generosity, and warmth are equal to his brilliant playing.

[@NickFinzer]

A true master!

[@iloveaudiostuff]

I love hearing this - thank you for sharing this. It’s so inspiring as I’m working at the moment, transcribing a J.J. solo (‘Old Devil Moon’)!!!

[@NickFinzer]

awesome! happy transcribing! :)

[@DanielKJohanssonTrombone]

JJ calling George Roberts a sweetheart is already a favorite moment. 😊 Thank you for posting this!

[@DanielKJohanssonTrombone]

I listened to your recording of "Say When" by the way - sounds great! Cool that you were able to get JJ veteran Rufus Reid on. 🎶

[@NickFinzer]

@DanielKJohanssonTrombone was so fun!!

[@adamtheis6662]

Dude thanks for posting this. Really enjoying. Thanks for all the great stuff you do

[@NickFinzer]

Once I heard it I knew I had to 🙌👍

[@trombonistpete]

This was so wonderful, thank you so much for sharing it for us all!

[@NickFinzer]

So happy to

[@jjtbone]

This is tremendous, thank you for sharing!

[@NickFinzer]

So good to hear JJ’s opinions straight from the source!

[@williamwingert2340]

That was beautiful!

[@NickFinzer]

Inspiring!!

[@abel.cecchi]

jj and jimmy knepper the goats, so awesome to hear him gas jimmy up 🗣️ 5:11

[@NickFinzer]

👍👍

[@ivanbaquerizo7022]

It means so much to see this come out, thanks so much! 😭❤️

[@NickFinzer]

It’s important to get a glimpse from behind the curtain!!!

[@jeremyferguson4772]

Amazing stuff! Thanks Nick

[@NickFinzer]

Glad you liked it! Love hearing from the SOURCE!

[@Slidefunk]

Nick, thank you so much for sharing this!

[@NickFinzer]

My pleasure!

[@marcusanderson3147]

“A lot of that is just single tongue” what a giant

[@NickFinzer]

Right?!?

[@waters4151]

Any information about the date of this recording? Fascinating stuff!

[@NickFinzer]

Late 1980s