- Alphonso Johnson
Alphonso Johnson (born 1951) is a American
jazz bassist who has been influential since the early 1970s.Biography
Born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , Johnson started off as atrombone player, but switched to the electric bass in his late teens. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, Johnson showed innovation and fluidity on the electric bass. He sessioned with a few jazz musicians before landing a job withWeather Report , taking over for co-founding memberMiroslav Vitous . Johnson, ranked alongside peersStanley Clarke andSteve Swallow , was considered one of the best bassists of the period.Fact|date=April 2007 His playing was featured on the Weather Report album "Mysterious Traveller ", on the songs "Cucumber Slumber" and "Scarlet Woman". Johnson appeared on two more albums for Weather Report before he would leave the band to work withdrummer Billy Cobham .Johnson was one of the first musicians to introduce the
Chapman Stick to the public. His knowledge of the instrument nearly landed him a lucrative job with Genesis as the replacement forSteve Hackett who had quit Genesis in 1977. Johnson being more of a bassist than a guitarist, had recommended his friend ex-Sweetbottom guitarist and fellow sessions musicianDaryl Stuermer , who would go on to remain a member of the Genesis's touring band for the rest of their existence.In early 1982, Johnson joined
Grateful Dead memberBob Weir 's side project,Bobby and the Midnites . He would reunite with Weir playing bass in place ofPhil Lesh onThe Other Ones 2000 tour. He has performed fusion versions of Grateful Dead covers alongside Billy Cobham in the bandJazz Is Dead .Later in 1984, Johnson played consecutive sets for the Ronnie Lane's ARMS Tour over four shows stretched across the USA. The show's second set of the night (after Eric Clapton's 1st set) featured Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer. The following set Johnson teamed up with the legendary Jimmy Page.
Children
He also has two sons named Myles and Malcolm Johnson, who are following in their father's footsteps as musicians.
External links
* [http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=879254 Biography]
* [http://www.embamba.com/ The Alphonso Johnson Official Website]
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