| Jeff Johnson has been a part of many recent and coming CD releases. Those found on Origin Records include: Jazzbassist Jeff Johnson and drummer Tad Britton have collaborated extensively since they met in Oklahoma City in 1983. They arrived in Seattle together in 1990 and continue to explore music together in profoundly intuitive ways. Jeff and Tad work together on regularly on Thursday nights in Ballard, WA at the Thai KU restraunt in the FU KUN WU Lounge from 8:30 -11pm. This group is a trio which features Jon Alberts on piano and many other special guests when core members are out of town. No cover and great Thai cuisine. Check out Tad Britton's beautiful 2007 trio release on Origin Records titled "Black Hills". This trio recording features Tad's tasteful and always musical drumming and Marc Seales inspired work on piano. New York pianist Hal Galper teamed with Jeff Johnson on bass and John Bishop on drums to produce the cooperative trio release titled "Furious Rubato" for Origin Records in 2007. This recording has received great reviews for it's unique and fresh approach to the traditional piano trio format. Watch for this trio to perform a concert set at the Ballard Jazz Festival on Friday April 25th, 2008 and a concert set the following night, Saturday April 26th, featuring the trio along with the great saxophonist Lee Konitz. Origin Records' soprano and alto saxophonist Brent Jensen's "One More Mile",tenor saxist Richard Cole's "Shade", pianist Bill Anschell's "More to the Ear than Meets the Eye", and the Origin Holiday collections called "Winter" and "The Cool Season", are all recently available and feature Jeff on bass. Thomas Marriott (trumpet & flugel horn) released his Origin Records debut CD called "Individuation" in 2005. It features guests from New York; David Budway-piano & Fender Rhodes and Joe Locke-vibes. Jeff on bass with John Bishop-drums, and Rick Mandyck-alto sax. Thomas' "Both Sides of the Fence" release for 2007 also features Jeff, along with Joe Locke on vibes, Hadley Caliman on tenor sax, Marc Seales on piano, and John Bishop on drums. Thomas has plans for the studio in Spring 2008 so watch Origin for his next project release. Pianist Randy Halberstadt released his own trio recording, "Parallel Tracks", on Origin in 2004 which features Jeff on bass and drummer Gary Hobbs. Vocalists Gail Pettis ("May I Come In ?" Origin 2007) and Jeff Baker ("Shopping For Your Heart" Origin 2007) both feature Jeff's bass work on their CD's. "SCENES". A working trio which features innovative guitarist John Stowell, John Bishop-drums, and Jeff Johnson-bass, released the CD "Scenes, Along the Way" on Origin in 2006. The recording features unique and original music by both John Stowell and Jeff Johnson. Pianist Dave Peck has invited Jeff Johnson to play on the last two trio releases for his own "Let's Play Stella Records" label. 2002's "Out of Seattle" recorded live at Jazz Alley and 2004's "Good Road" both feature Jeff on bass and the great Joe LaBarbera on drums. A 2007 live session also recorded in concert at Jazz Alley is next in line to be released by the Dave Peck trio on "Let's Play Stella Records" and features again the work of Jeff and Joe LaBarbera. Jeff also participated in sessions for a recent release called "Remember Beauty" for producer Allen Johnson Jr. (not related). This project was done with George Voland -valve trombone, Ali Ryerson-alto and bass flutes, John Pisano-guitar, Greg Williamson-drums, and guest vocalist Jeanne Pisano. An excellent straight ahead jazz jam session recorded part live and part in studio. Also coming in 2008 and beyond........ Watch for the next Jeff Johnson trio release for Origin Records to be called "Tall Stranger", a profoundly beautiful Seattle session from 2002 which features Hans Teuber on tenor sax and Billy Mintz on drums. An incredible mix of melody, intuition, and freedom. A sound that has developed over a 20+ year period and a must hear. Jeff is also exploring several archived recordings that saw either limited release on cassette in the past or no release at all. Jeff has remixed and remastered his 1991 recording,"My Heart", for possible re-release. This is an incredible recording done in a Portland Oregon studio in two hours time. "My Heart" features John Gross-tenor sax, Art Resnick-piano, Jeff-bass, and Billy Mintz on drums. The session was originally marred by problems recording the bass but the remix/master has helped to clean up the tracks. The music is all original compositions by Jeff and just too good to be missed. There are several recordings done in the 80's and 90's which feature Hans Teuber on saxophones,synth,and various instruments, Tad Britton on drums and various instruments, and Jeff on basses,guitars,and keyboards. These recordings document the creation of a totally unique sound and are too good to let slip away undocumented. Never fear, the future is not all old wine in new bottles with many new projects and a lifetime of new music yet to come. |
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