Marc Johnson (musician)

Marc Johnson (born October 21, 1953 in Auburn, Washington) is an American jazz bassist, composer and bandleader.

Johnson studied at the University of North Texas where he was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band along with Lyle Mays. Johnson toured with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in the late 1970s.^[1] After a year, the 25-year-old Johnson was hired by Bill Evans in 1978, and remained in Evans's trio until the pianist's death in 1980.^[2]

Johnson's first record under his own name for ECM, recorded in 1985, was Bass Desires, with Bill Frisell and John Scofield on guitar, and Peter Erskine on drums. The follow-up in 1987, entitled Second Sight, included the ballad "Hymn for Her", dedicated to the memory of Johnson's sister, Terese. The Sound Of Summer Running was released in 1998 and featured Frisell, Joey Baron, and Pat Metheny.

Johnson has played extensively with John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Eliane Elias (to whom he is married) and Enrico Pieranunzi. His 2005 ECM recording Shades of Jade, featured Joe Lovano on saxophone. Elias contributed several compositions to the CD, including the ballad "Apareceu".

He is the stepson of Robert Ottman, a professor of music theory at UNT. His daughter, Francesca Johnson, is a jazz singer who also studied at UNT.

Discography

As leader

• 1985: Bass Desires (ECM)
• 1987: Second Sight (ECM)
• 1989: 2x4 (Two by Four)
• 1991: Right Brain Patrol
• 1994: Magic Labyrinth
• 1998: The Sound of Summer Running
• 2005: Shades of Jade

As sideman

With John Abercrombie

• Current Events (ECM, 1985)
• Getting There (ECM, 1987)
• John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine (ECM, 1988)
• November (ECM, 1992)
• Cat 'n' Mouse (ECM, 2000)
• Class Trip (ECM, 2003)
• The Third Quartet (ECM, 2006)

With Bill Evans

• We Will Meet Again (Warner Bros., 1979)
• Homecoming (Milestone, 1979)
• The Paris Concert: Edition One (Elektra Musician, 1979)
• The Paris Concert: Edition Two (Elektra Musician, 1979)
• Letter to Evan (Dreyfus, 1980)
• Turn Out the Stars: The Final Village Vanguard Recordings (Dreyfus, 1980)
• The Last Waltz: The Final Recordings (Milestone, 1980)
• Consecration: The Final Recordings Part 2 (Milestone, 1980)

With Joe Lovano

• Village Rhythm (Soul Note, 1988)
• Landmarks (Blue Note, 1990)

With Pat Martino

• The Maker (Evidence, 1994)

With Ralph Towner

• Lost and Found (ECM, 1995)

References

1. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Marc Johnson". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p6838. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
2. ^ Prasad, Anil. "Marc Johnson’s Homage to Bill Evans & Scott La Faro". Bass Player. http://www.bassplayer.com/article/marc-johnsons-homage/mar-08/34331. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 

External links

• European Jazz Network article
• Discography at Spiral Quest

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Name	Johnson, Marc
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Date of birth	1953-10-21
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