A J.J. Johnson classic—lyrical, logical, and swinging. This song is available as a transcription showing J.J.'s melody and solo from the original recording.
A medium-up swinger with a concise, lyrical melody, Say When is a classic example of J.J. Johnson's writing style. The changes of this 32-measure song are largely a logical set of II-V7s, mostly tonal to B♭ major though visiting G major in the second half of the A and C sections.
We present this song as a melody and solo transcription showing what J.J. played on the original recording. Click on Solos for more details. The audio clip above presents the opening melody and J.J.'s first chorus.
Though originally recorded in a big band arrangement, Say When also works in a combo setting. The sextet One For All recorded a version of Say When in 2005 on their Venus album "Killer Joe." Another sextet recording is on trombonist Steve Davis' 2014 album "Say When" on the Smoke Sessions label, featuring fellow One For All members Eric Alexander and Joe Farnsworth.
Our five-page melody/solo transcription contains everything J.J. Johnson played on the recording, plus the lead lines of the big band arrangement where he is not playing, including the intro. After playing the head, J.J. solos for three choruses; however, the second and third choruses are broken up for some call-and-response with ensemble figures. The final chorus starts with an ensemble "shout" for 16 measures, with J.J. taking the second half of the melody out into a tag ending.
This solo showcases J.J.'s clear and precise articulation. In this solo, his ideas are just as clear as in the written melody.
J.J. Johnson is arguably the most influential bop and post-swing trombonist and also one of the great composers and arrangers in jazz. He was one of the first trombonists to embrace bebop; his playing continues to exert a strong influence on other musicians. He started his recording career in 1942 in Benny Carter's big band. On July 2, 1944, J.J was on the first Jazz At The Philharmonic concert. He recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra beginning in 1945. Read more...
