| First Place | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1957 | |||
| Recorded | April 11, 12 & 26, 1957 | |||
| Studio | Columbia Studios, Studio A and Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia CL 1030 | |||
| Producer | Cal Lampley | |||
| J. J. Johnson chronology | ||||
| ||||
First Place is an album by the J. J. Johnson Quartet which was released on the Columbia label. [1] [2] [3] [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [5] |
| Disc | [6] |
Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "Bop is their thing, and Johnson's flawless lines on his trombone were never more in evidence than on this stupendous effort... Johnson's smaller ensemble dates have stood the test of time as perhaps his best ever -- which is debatable, considering all his fine work, but First Place is indisputably brilliant". [5]
All music is composed by J. J. Johnson except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Only a Paper Moon (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg)" | 5:01 |
| 2. | "Paul's Pal (Sonny Rollins)" | 4:04 |
| 3. | "For Heaven's Sake (Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer)" | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Commutation" | 5:15 |
| 5. | "Harvey's House" | 2:59 |
| 6. | "That Tired Routine Called Love (Matt Dennis)" | 5:12 |
| 7. | "Be My Love (Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn)" | 3:00 |
| 8. | "Cry Me a River (Arthur Hamilton)" | 5:51 |
| 9. | "Nickels and Dimes" | 4:54 |
| Total length: | 39:18 | |
J. J. Johnson, born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.
Kai Chresten Winding was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of "More", the theme from the movie Mondo Cane, reached in 1963 number 8 in the Billboard Hot 100 and remained his only entry here.
Saxophone Colossus is the sixth studio album by American jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Perhaps Rollins's best-known album, it is often considered his breakthrough record. It was recorded monophonically on June 22, 1956, with producer Bob Weinstock and engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the latter's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Rollins led a quartet on the album that included pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach. Rollins was a member of the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet at the time of the recording, and the recording took place four days before his bandmates Brown and Richie Powell died in a car accident on the way to a band engagement in Chicago. Roach appeared on several more of Rollins' solo albums, up to the 1958 Freedom Suite album.
Lady in Satin is an album by the jazz singer Billie Holiday released in 1958 on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 1157 in mono and CS 8048 in stereo. It is the penultimate album completed by the singer, and the last to be released in her lifetime. Her final album, Last Recording, was recorded in March 1959, and released just after her death. The original album was produced by Irving Townsend and engineered by Fred Plaut.
Blue Trombone is an LP by J. J. Johnson. An early example of hard bop, the album features pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Max Roach. The album was released on Columbia Records in 1957 and was reissued on CD by Tristar in 1994.
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley is the second album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, and his first released on the EmArcy label, featuring an octet with Nat Adderley, Jerome Richardson, Cecil Payne, John Williams, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cleveland or J. J. Johnson, and Kenny Clarke or Max Roach arranged by Quincy Jones.
Blues in Orbit is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1959 and released in 1960.
Proof Positive is a 1964 album by American jazz trombonist J. J. Johnson featuring performances recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.
J.J. Inc. is an album by jazz trombonist J. J. Johnson, released in 1961.
The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker is an album by American jazz drummer Max Roach featuring tracks associated with Charlie Parker recorded in late 1957 and 1958 and released on the EmArcy label. It is also the first album to feature Roach playing without a piano.
Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell/J. J. Johnson is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt compiling tracks recorded with trombonist J. J. Johnson or pianist Bud Powell in 1949–50 and released on the Prestige label in 1957. The 1990 CD reissue added five bonus tracks to the original LP. The cover art was done by cartoonist Don Martin of MAD magazine fame.
The Swingin' States is an album by American jazz trombonist Kai Winding featuring performances recorded in 1958 for the Columbia label.
Jay and Kai is an album by American jazz trombonists J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding featuring performances recorded in 1955 and 1956 for the Columbia label.
Goodies is an album by American jazz trombonist and arranger J. J. Johnson with a big band recorded in 1965 for the RCA Victor label.
The Total J.J. Johnson is an album by jazz trombonist and arranger J. J. Johnson and Big Band recorded in 1966 for the RCA Victor label.
J. J. in Person! is an album recorded "in concert" by the J. J. Johnson Quintet which was released on the Columbia label. This is a studio recording, but some versions of the album, including the original release, feature over-dubbed applause and faked bandstand announcements introducing the songs and performers.
Really Livin is an album recorded by the J. J. Johnson Sextet which was released on the Columbia label.
Dial J. J. 5 is an album by the J. J. Johnson Quintet which was released on the Columbia label.
J Is for Jazz is an album by the J. J. Johnson Quintet which was released on the Columbia label.
A Touch of Satin is an album by J. J. Johnson's Quartet which was released on the Columbia label.