Count Basie (featuring J.J. Johnson): Rambo

J.J. Johnson was a promising young trombonist/arranger when he left the Benny Carter band and joined up with the Count in May 1945. Only two recordings with Basie have solo statements by Johnson, "The King" and the track described here. "Rambo" did not remain in the book, and was not issued as a single in the United States at the time, but it has been reissued frequently over the years and has even been covered by The Manhattan Transfer. The composition itself is a good one, with a terrific written half-chorus for the saxophones, and good solos by Johnson, Jacquet and Edison.