AMG Review of Let's Hang Out

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Forty-nine years after his recording debut, trombonist J.J. Johnson is still in peak form on this disc. Most of the numbers on his Verve CD find him accompanied by either Stanley Cowell or Renee Roenes on piano, bassist Rutus Reid and Victor Lewis or Lewis Nash on drums with occasional contributions from trumpeter Terence Blanchard (whose chops sound a little off) and Ralph Moore on tenor and soprano. In addition, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath makes a couple of guest appearances, and "Beautiful Love" is taken by Johnson as an unaccompanied solo. Despite the strong supporting cast, the great trombonist is the star throughout, particularly on "It Never Entered My Mind," his "Kenya," "It's You or No One" and a tasteful quartet rendition of "I Got It Bad." Excellent music.