Pinnacles (J. J. Johnson album) explained

Pinnacles
Type:	Studio
Artist:	J. J. Johnson
Cover:	Pinnacles_(album).jpg
Released:	1980
Recorded:	September 17–19, 1979
Studio:	Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	38:56
Label:	Milestone M 9093
Producer:	Ed Michel
Chronology:	J. J. Johnson
Prev Year:	1977
Next Title:	Concepts in Blue
Next Year:	1980

Pinnacles is an album by jazz trombonist and arranger J. J. Johnson, recorded in 1979 for the Milestone label.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow observed: "Although not quite an essential set, J.J. Johnson is in excellent form on this date". All About Jazz wrote: "This is deep ‘Seventies funk, with block horns and lots of percussion. It’s also pretty generic – these guys are more at home playing jazz, and that’s what they should be playing".^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by J. J. Johnson except where noted.

1. "Night Flight" - 7:46
2. "Deak" - 6:26
3. "Cannonball Junction" - 5:32
4. "Pinnacles" - 6:40
5. "See See Rider" (Traditional) - 6:46
6. "Mr. Clean" (Weldon Irvine) - 5:46

Personnel

• J. J. Johnson - trombone, arranger
• Oscar Brashear - trumpet (tracks 2, 3, 5 & 6)
• Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone (tracks 1-4)
• Tommy Flanagan - piano
• Ron Carter - bass
• Billy Higgins - drums
• Kenneth Nash - percussion (tracks 5 & 6)

Use of Electronic Music Equipment

From the liner notes:

"J.J. Johnson uses Barcus-Berry pickup, Gentle Electric pitch follower,^[5] and Roland Space Echo on "Cannonball Junction", and the same pickup and pitch follower, plus ARP 2600 Synthesizer and Oberheim Expander Module on "Mr. Clean."

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Milestone_9050.htm Milestone Records 9000 series discography
2. http://www.bsnpubs.com/new/milestone.pdf Milestone Label Discography
3. http://www.jazzdisco.org/tommy-flanagan/catalog/#milestone-m-9093 Tommy Flanagan Catalog
4. AAJ Staff, All About Jazz Review, April 1, 1999
5. Web site: Gentle Electric Home Page . gentleelectric.com . 22 June 2020.