Trombone For Two is a 1956 album by jazz trombonists J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding ("Jay and Kai"). It was the first of five albums that Winding and Johnson recorded for Columbia Records (CL 742[1]).[2] George Avakian produced the recording sessions, which took place on June 23 and 24, 1955.[1]

Trombone For Two
2007 Mosaic Records edition
Studio album by
Released1956 (1956)
RecordedJune 23–24, 1955
GenreJazz
Length35:41
LabelColumbia
ProducerGeorge Avakian
Kai Winding chronology
K + J.J.
(1955)
Trombone For Two
(1956)
Jay and Kai + 6
(1956)
J. J. Johnson chronology
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 3
(1955)
Trombone for Two
(1956)
Jay and Kai + 6
(1956)

In 2007,[3] Mosaic Records paired the album with Jay and Kai (Columbia CL 973) on one compact disc (MCD-1015), as part of the label's Mosaic Singles series.[4]


Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [5]

Scott Yanow, writing for allmusic, describes Trombone For Two as "bop-based but full of surprises, tasteful but not always predictable," and gives the album a three-star rating (of a possible five).[2] It was a surprise success in the '50s, when jazz was dominated by piano trios and trumpet and tenor saxophone stars. Jay and Kai crafted well thought out, inventive arrangements that highlighted the blend of their sounds while at the same time setting off their distinctive styles.

Track listing

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Side One

1. "The Whiffenpoof Song" (Minnigerode-Pomeroy-Galloway-Rev: R. Vallee)
2. "Give Me the Simple Life" (Ruby - Bloom)
3. "Close as Pages in a Book" (Fields - Romberg)
4. "Turnabout" (J. J. Johnson)
5. "Trombone for Two" (Kai Winding)

Side Two

6. "It's Sand, Man" (E. Lewis-Arr: K. Winding)
7. "We Two" (J. J. Johnson)
8. "Let's Get Away From It All" (Adair-Dennis)
9. "Goodbye" (Jenkins)
10. "This Can't Be Love" (Rodgers and Hart)

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b Payne, Doug. "Kai Winding: Before Verve". Sound Insights. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. Trombone for Two at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  3. ^ Payne, Doug. "Kai Winding: After Verve". Sound Insights. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  4. ^ "J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding - Trombone For Two (MCD-1015)". Mosaic Records. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  5. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 786. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.