By the time this music was played in 1957, the jazz Roman circus known as Jazz At The Philharmonic (JATP) had been going strong for 14 years. The form has survived and burgeoned to this day and, as can be heard here, it drew in some of the most elegant and tasteful soloists. The two leaders meshed well together and were obviously happy in their work, as both are at their best throughout the 73 minutes on the disc. Johnson had played on the first JATP recordings at a time when he had radically changed the approach to jazz trombone playing. He had sacrificed the full tone possible on the instrument to substitute an agility and speed that matched the saxophone players. Well, almost. For no one could come near to the eloquence of Stan Getz in full flight. The outstanding track has to be his solo feature on "It Never Entered My Mind", one of the classic jazz improvisations. The rhythm section is the Oscar Peterson Trio augmented by drummer Connie Kay. The original LP issue has been augmented by six extra tracks from a second concert. Your collection needs this album. --Steve Voce

Bop trombone and a cool tenor make great music, 28 Aug 2008
Norman Grantz is one of those figures to whom jazz fans owe a huge debt of gratitude for preserving much of the high quality music we are able to enjoy today. A fine example is this CD, recorded in 1957 at two concerts,in Chicago and L.A. and shows what we would be missing. The named artists both at the top of their careers blend supremly well musically. Sadly we hear the same set played at each venue however there is the bonus of an additional solo number from each player in the L.A. concert. The Oscar Peterson trio plus Connie Kay on drums provide a coherent and appopriate setting in a CD which should be part of every jazz colection.

Bop trombone and a cool tenor make great music, 28 Aug 2008
Norman Grantz is one of those figures to whom jazz fans owe a huge debt of gratitude for preserving much of the high quality music we are able to enjoy today. A fine example is this CD, recorded in 1957 at two concerts,in Chicago and L.A. and shows what we would be missing. The named artists both at the top of their careers blend supremly well musically. Sadly we hear the same set played at each venue however there is the bonus of an additional solo number from each player in the L.A. concert. The Oscar Peterson trio plus Connie Kay on drums provide a coherent and appopriate setting in a CD which should be part of every jazz colection.

Comment on Robin Benson's Review, 04 Mar 2006
I agree with Robin's review above. I am not a great fan of the trombone, but this album was an ear-opener. The last eight tracks are excellent, the last two with a frontline of Fuller, Morgan and Lateef. The missing tracks are the alternative take of Playgirl Stroll and Judiful - shame as they are by the groups involved in the last eight tracks! The liner notes are an eye-strainer - not so good for the over-forty jazz buff...

A few good trombones, 20 Jan 2006

I thought the title of this CD a bit misleading, as on several tracks the instrument is no more prominent than any other instrument in these combos. Frank Rosolino is the only player to have just a rhythm section as accompaniment on tracks four to seven. The first seven tracks are from the old 78 days so they are no longer than three minutes then track eight, Lo-Fi, with Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Coker, Bill Hughes and Benny Powell allows everyone to shine for nine minutes. These four get another two tracks and the remainder of the CD are two groups with Bill Harris and Curtis Fuller as the featured players. Incidentally trumpeter Lee Morgan gives a great solo on Accident.

This is sixty-four minutes of good solid jazz dating from 1947 to 1960 but I think a better trombone album, recorded in 1957, is 'Four Trombones' (ASIN B000000ZDF) featuring JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green and Willie Dennis and a knockout rhythm section of John Lewis, Charlie Mingus and Art Taylor. Eight tracks and seventy-six minutes of heaven!

I think it is worth commenting on the packaging for The Trombone Album, it seems it was originally released as a double LP album and the inlay card is so badly produced that it still lists two tracks that would not fit on the CD. The notes, by John Litweller, are probably from the LP sleeves but are printed here in type so small that it is unreadable, likewise with the personnel and recording information, despite being surrounded by plenty of space on the back of the card. Denon Records marketing department seem to be run by amateurs.