The Musical World of J.J. Johnson

...a welcome addition to jazz biography...offers important personal and musical insights into the life and career of a seminal innovator whose contributions to improvisation were critical to the development of the jazz trombone. * All Music Guide To Jazz *
...the first substantial biography and extended study of his musical development....This book will appeal to a variety of readers. Well documented and coherently presented, it is a work the historian can trust, with a wealth of material that establishes a cultural context for the events it describes...there are enough fascinating anecdotes and colorful interviews to make a good read for both the Johnson fan and the general jazz enthusiast. The many analyses provide a useful starting point for understanding Johnson's complex musical contribution...it will be the logical starting point for future studies of this creative American musician. * Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association *
This book will certainly stand as the definitive Johnson study for a long time....recommended for jazz collections of all types. * CHOICE *
..this is more than a standard biography. The authors, both musicologists, have produced a very informative and often inspirational book...as thorough a coverage of a subject as one could ask. * Rapport *
No detail seems to have been left out...It is almost like looking inside the man himself. * The IAJRC Journal *
...fills a major gap in jazz studies...offers a provocative and comprehensive account of the makings of a jazz legend. * Record-Review *
This book offers an illustration of Johnson's technical and stylistic development, as well as a thorough catalogue of his compositions, film scores, and scores. * Reference and Research Book News *
...well written and fascinating study of jazz legend J.J. Johnson. Recommended. * Big Bands International *