Lament is a jazz ballad composed by trombonist J. J. Johnson. It was first released in 1955 on the Jay & Kai album with Kai Winding, as a 32-bar AABA piece famous for its slow, melancholic mood. The melody relies on sustained half- and whole-note figures that let the trombone’s lush, dark tone sing and create a distinctive texture. The tune gained wide fame when Miles Davis recorded it with Gil Evans for the 1957 Miles Ahead album, a landmark collaboration that helped redefine the trombone in modern jazz. Over time it has become a jazz standard, typically performed as a subdued ballad; some later versions add lyrics by Jon Hendricks, though the original instrumental version contains no lyrics. A notable live rendering appears on the 1961 Carnegie Hall concert released by Columbia, further cementing Lament’s status.
