Johnson,J.J. / Winding,Kai Trombones For Two: The Classic Collaborations 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.

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 17. Bone of Contention 18. Birdland Festival 19. Funnybone 20. Vista 21. Hip Bones 22. Riviera 23. Dinner for One, Please James 24. Wind Bag 25. We'll Be Together Again 26. Don't Argue 27. How Long Has This Been Going On? 28. Bags' Groove 29. You're Crying 30. Funk Junction 31. Thou Swell 32. It's All Right with Me 33. Lope City 34. Stolen Bass 35. Out of This World 36. Gong Rock 37. Yes Sir! That's My Baby 38. Mad About the Boy 39. Lover 40. That's How I Feel About You 41. Grasshopper 42. Give Me the Simple Life 43. This Can't Be Love 44. Trombone for Two 45. We Two 46. Let's Get Away From It All 47. Turnabout 48. It's Sand, Man 49. Close As Pages In A Book 50. The Whiffenpoof Song 51. Goodbye 52. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 53. Caribe 54. Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe 55. The Song Is You 56. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning 57. No Moon At All 58. You're My Thrill 59. Jeanne 60. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top 61. You Don't Know What Love Is 62. Piece For Two Tromboniums 63. Rise 'N' Shine 64. The Continental 65. A Night In Tunisia 66. All At Once You Love Her 67. The Peanut Vendor 68. Four Plus Four 69. Lover Come Back To Me 70. True Blue Tromboniums 71. NWPT 72. Too Close For Comfort 73. 'S Wonderful 74. Tromboniums In Motion 75. How High The Moon 76. Violets For Your Furs