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Trombonist James Lewis "J.J." Johnson, one of the luminaries of bebop in the '40s and '50s, brought an extraordinary fluency of expression to his polished playing. He almost single-handedly obliterated the idea that the trombone belonged only to the old swing and New Orleans jazz styles, and he dispelled the notion that his instrument was less spry and articulate than the saxophone. Johnson's Blue Note album The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1, from 1953 with young trumpeter Clifford Brown and other notables, is widely regarded as a milestone in modern jazz.
Born Jan. 22, 1924, in Indianapolis, Johnson was performing with Count Basie and Benny Carter in the early 40s. Settling in New York, Johnson played bebop clubs and recorded with the likes of Sonny Rollins, Bud Powell, Hank Jones and Max Roach and joining combos led by Dizzy Gillespie. A high-profile partnership with trombonist Kai Winding lasted from 1954-'56, with several reunions later to come. After parting ways with Winding, Johnson fronted his own quintet or sextet for the remainder of the '50s, also doing some noteworthy sessions with Tommy Flanagan, Elvin Jones, Stan Getz and Oscar Peterson.
Johnson toured with Miles Davis and Sonny Stitt in the early '60s, but his increasing renown as a writer and arranger convinced him to live in Los Angeles after 1970. He stayed busy with films and television shows for a good number of years. In 1983, Johnson resurfaced on the international jazz scene with the release of Things Are Getting Better All The Time (Original Jazz Classics).

J.J. Died in February 2001