J.J. Johnson

Johnson showed that the trombone could handle bebop's fast lines and complex harmony with clarity. His 1950s Blue Note recordings became core references for modern jazz trombone.

Start with his Blue Note material from the 1950s and the Jay and Kai recordings with Kai Winding. Those records show both his solo language and his tight two-trombone writing.

Before Johnson, trombone was often associated more with swing-era section work and tailgate effects. Johnson brought a cleaner, faster bebop articulation that influenced later players such as Curtis Fuller.

Yes, Johnson also wrote larger works and later worked in film and television scoring. His career stretched from bebop clubs to studio composition in Los Angeles.