First Place is an album by the J. J. Johnson Quartet which was released on the Columbia label.[1][2][3][4]

First Place
Studio album by
Released1957
RecordedApril 11, 12 & 26, 1957
StudioColumbia Studios, Studio A and Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
GenreJazz
LabelColumbia
CL 1030
ProducerCal Lampley
J. J. Johnson chronology
J Is for Jazz
(1956)
First Place
(1957)
Blue Trombone
(1957)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [5]

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]

Track listing edit

All music is composed by J. J. Johnson except where noted.

No.TitleLength
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
  • Recorded at Columbia Studios, Studio A, NYC on April 11, 1957 (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6 & 9), April 12, 1957 (tracks 1, 4 & 7) and at Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC on April 26, 1957 (track 8).


Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ Discogs album entry accessed July 18, 2016
  2. ^ Maz Roach Catalog, accessed July 18, 2016
  3. ^ Watts, R., Callahan, M., Edwards, D. and Eyries, P. Columbia Main Series, Part 6: CL 1000-1099 (1957-1958), accessed July 18, 2016
  4. ^ The Complete Columbia J.J. Johnson Small Group Sessions - Liner Notes Archived 2016-08-17 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 18, 2016
  5. ^ a b Nastos, Michael G.. First Place – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2016.