Jeff Johnson (bass player)

Jeff Johnson (born December 12, 1954) is a prolific American jazz bassist. He has led his own groups and worked with Jessica Williams, Hal Galper, Bud Shank, Chet Baker, Lew Tabackin, Barney Kessel, Charlie Rouse, and others. A sensitive accompanist, Johnson is sought-after by vocalists; he has accompanied Karrin Allyson, Tierney Sutton, Kendra Shank, Mark Murphy, Marlena Shaw and others.

Biography

Born in Minneapolis, Jeff Johnson learned music by ear, first picking up an acoustic guitar and later switching to electric, and then double bass. At age 17 he was hired by veteran saxophonist Irv Williams for a daily hotel gig. This served as a "great school." At age 20, after over two years of this, Johnson left Minneapolis to spend some time in Philadelphia before touring with Philly Joe Jones.

At the conclusion of this relationship, Johnson became an itinerant professional, living in Atlanta, Miami, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Austin, Los Angeles. He is currently based in Seattle, Washington, where he has lived and worked since 1990.

Johnson records for Seattle-based Origin Records and co-leads a collective of Origin Musicians, Scenes.

Discography as a Leader or Co-Leader

*"Harbinger" (1984)
*"My Heart" (1992)
*"Maybeck Duets" (1998) with Hal Galper
*"Free" (1999)
*"The Art of Falling" (2001)
*"Scenes" (2001) with Scenes
*"Winter: An Origin Records Holiday Collection" (2002) with Hans Teuber, Dave Peterson and John Bishop
*"Near Earth" (2004)
*"Along the Way" (2006) with Scenes
*"Furious Rubato" (2007) with Hal Galper and John Bishop
*"Tall Stranger" (2008)

Discography as a Sideman

*"A Gift" (1988) Art Resnick
*"A Glance Back" (1992) Richard Cole
*"Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit" (1992) John Bishop
*"Momentum" (1994) Jessica Williams
*"A Song That I Heard" (1994) Jessica Williams
*"Live at Vartan Jazz" (1994) Hal Galper Trio
*"In the Pocket" (1994) Jessica Williams
*"Inventions" (1995) Jessica Williams
*"Rebop" (1995) Hal Galper Trio plus Jerry Bergonzi
*"Joy" (1996) Jessica Williams
*"Fugue State" (1997) Hal Galper Trio
*"Choked Up" (1997) Sharpshooters
*"Now...Here...This" (1997) Mike Denny
*"Mothers Day in Albuquerque" (1998) Bert Wilson
*"Sweet Beat Blues" (1998) Hal Galper Trio
*"Jessica's Blues" (1998) Jessica Williams
*"Forever" (1998) Jan Stentz Group
*"Wish" (1998) Kendra Shank
*"In a Mellow Tone" (1999) Ben Black
*"Suddenly It's Bruno" (1999) Jack Brownlow
*"Here and Now" (1999) Steve Korn
*"Let's Call This That" (1999) Hal Galper Trio
*"Latina by Proxy" (2000) Wenda Zonnefeld
*"Remembered Faces/Private Places" (2001) Ben Black
*"The Wizard" (2001) Aaron Parks
*"Out of Seattle" (2002) Dave Peck
*"House of Jade" (2004) Bill Macdonough Quartet
*"Parallel Tracks" (2004) Randy Halberstadt
*"Individuation" (2004) Thomas Marriott
*"Nothing if Not Something" (2004) John Bishop
*"Good Road" (2005) Dave Peck
*"Both Side of the Fence" (2006) Thomas Marriott
*"More to The Ear than Meets the Eye" (2006) Bill Anschell
*"Shopping For Your Heart" (2007) Jeff Baker
*"Black Hills" (2007) Tad Britton
*"Shade" (2008) Richard Cole
*"One More Mile" (2008) Brent Jensen et al.

Awards

* 2001 Earshot Instrumentalist of the Year
* 2002 Northwest Recording of the Year, "The Art of Falling"

External links

* [http://www.jazzbassist.com/ Official Site]