J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding - Trombones For Two: The Classic Collaborations 1953-56 (CD)

J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding were among the leading innovators and primary exponents of the trombone in modern jazz, exploring the instrument's potential in the challenging musical era following the emergence of bebop in the 1940s, where trumpet and saxophone were more suited to the medium's rapid tempos and demand for technical mastery. Having established their reputations as soloists, they came together in 1953 for the first time to collaborate on a series of projects in different group environments. This 77-track 4-CD set features most of the titles they recorded together during this period before they went their separate ways again. It includes material from the "Live at Putnam Central Club" performances plus tracks from the albums "Reflections" on Savoy, "An Afternoon At Birdland" on X, "Jay & Kai" on Prestige, "K + J.J." on Bethlehem, and "Trombone For Two", "Jai & Kai Plus 6", and "Jai & Kai At Newport" on Columbia, as well as titles with Quincy Jones' Orchestra. Among the musicians with whom they perform in the various line-ups are John Lewis, Charles Mingus, Kenny Clarke, Dick Katz, Quincy Jones, Lucky Thompson, Paul Chambers, Milt Hinton, Shadow Wilson, Hank Jones, Ray Brown and others. It makes for fascinating and enlightening listening as they present both familiar and original jazz repertoire in a variety of unusual musical settings, which include their renowned trombone octet, and it's an entertaining showcase for two of the most renowned jazz trombonists of their era.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Move
2. Yesterdays
3. Trombosphere
4. Chazzanova
5. Kai's Day
6. Conversation (The Shrike)
7. Blues for Trombones
8. What Is This Thing Called Love?
9. Lament
10. The Major
11. Bernie's Tune
12. Reflections
13. Co-Op
14. Blues in Twos
15. Lullaby of Birdland
16. Cornerstone

Disc: 2

1. Bone of Contention
2. Birdland Festival
3. Funnybone
4. Vista
5. Hip Bones
6. Riviera
7. Dinner for One, Please James
8. Wind Bag
9. We'll Be Together Again
10. Don't Argue
11. How Long Has This Been Going On?
12. Bags' Groove
13. You're Crying
14. Funk Junction
15. Thou Swell
16. It's All Right with Me
17. Lope City
18. Stolen Bass
19. Out of This World

Disc: 3

1. Gong Rock
2. Yes Sir! That's My Baby
3. Mad About the Boy
4. Lover
5. That's How I Feel About You
6. Grasshopper
7. Give Me the Simple Life
8. This Can't Be Love
9. Trombone for Two
10. We Two
11. Let's Get Away From It All
12. Turnabout
13. It's Sand, Man
14. Close As Pages In A Book
15. The Whiffenpoof Song
16. Goodbye
17. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
18. Caribe
19. Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe
20. The Song Is You

Disc: 4

1. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
2. No Moon At All
3. You're My Thrill
4. Jeanne
5. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
6. You Don't Know What Love Is
7. Piece For Two Tromboniums
8. Rise 'N' Shine
9. The Continental
10. A Night In Tunisia
11. All At Once You Love Her
12. The Peanut Vendor
13. Four Plus Four
14. Lover Come Back To Me
15. True Blue Tromboniums
16. NWPT
17. Too Close For Comfort
18. 'S Wonderful
19. Tromboniums In Motion
20. How High The Moon
21. Violets For Your Furs