J.J. Johnson, known as the spiritual father of modern trombone, has been a notable figure in the history of jazz. His career has embodied virtually every innovation and development in jazz over the past half-century. Covering his life from childhood and education through his adult musical career playing with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, this book offers an illustration of Johnson's technical and stylistic development, as well as a thorough catalogue of his compositions, film scores, and recordings.

By Joshua Berrett and Louis G. Bourgois III

Chapter 1 Figures
Chapter 2 Foreword
Chapter 3 Preface
Chapter 4 Chapter 1: Early Years in Indianapolis, 1924-42
Chapter 5 Chapter 2: From Central Avenue to 52nd Street
Chapter 6 Chapter 3: In the Inner Circle of Boppers
Chapter 7 Chapter 4: Once that record started happening...
Chapter 8 Chapter 5: Vindicated and in the Vanguard
Chapter 9 Chapter 6: A Shift in Focus
Chapter 10 Chapter 7: The Hollywood Years, 1970-1987
Chapter 11 Chapter 8: Why Indianapolis-Why Not Indianapolis?
Chapter 12 Appendix: On Peeking into J.J.'s Studio
Chapter 13 Epilogue
Chapter 14 Bibliography
Chapter 15 Filmography
Chapter 16 Catalog of Compositions
Chapter 17 Discography
Chapter 18 Index
Chapter 19 Index of Discography Titles
Chapter 20 About the Authors