J. J. Johnson was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.  His career began with trombone chairs in the bands of Benny Carter and Count Basie.  One of the earliest trombonists to master the bebop style, he became a featured soloist with Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band and, after its demise, the small groups of Max Roach, Sonny Stitt and Charlie Parker.  His most productive period came when he joined forces with fellow trombonist Kai Winding in the group J.J. and Kai (from 1954 onward).