James Louis Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.
Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop.After studying the piano beginning at age 9, Johnson decided to play trombone at the age of 14. In 1941, he began his professional career with Clarence Love, and then played with Snookum Russell in 1942. In Russell's band, he met the trumpeter Fats Navarro, who influenced him to play in the style of the tenor saxophonist Lester Young.