Alphonso Johnson
Encyclopedia
Alphonso Johnson is an American
jazz
bassist
who has been influential since the early 1970s.
, Johnson started off as an upright bass 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 with Weather Report
, taking over for co-founding member Miroslav Vitous
. 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 with drummer
Billy Cobham
. During 1976-77 he recorded three solo albums as a band leader, for the Epic
label, in a fusion-funk vein.
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 for guitarist Steve Hackett
, who had quit Genesis in 1977. Being more of a bassist than a guitarist, Johnson instead recommended his friend ex-Sweetbottom guitarist and fellow session musician Daryl Stuermer
, who would go on to remain a member of Genesis's touring band for the rest of their existence.
Johnson was one of two bass players on Phil Collins
's first solo album, Face Value, in 1981.
In early 1982, Johnson joined Grateful Dead
member Bob Weir
's side project Bobby and the Midnites
. He would reunite with Weir in 2000, playing bass in place of Phil Lesh
on tour with The Other Ones
. He has also performed fusion versions of Grateful Dead songs alongside Billy Cobham in the band Jazz Is Dead
.
In 1983, he performed on the hit title track from Jeffrey Osborne
's Stay With Me Tonight
album. He then played in the Latin/rock band Santana
in 1985-1989.
Later in 1996, Johnson toured Europe and Japan with composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter
, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore
.
Since Fall of 2011 he is working toward a Music Education degree at Department of Music at California State University, Northridge
With Santana (band)
With Bob Weir
With George Duke and Billy Cobham Band
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
who has been influential since the early 1970s.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Johnson started off as an upright bass player, but switched to the electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
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 with Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
, taking over for co-founding member Miroslav Vitous
Miroslav Vitouš
Miroslav Ladislav Vitouš , is a Czech jazz bassist.-Biography:Born in Prague, he began the violin at age six, and started playing the piano at age ten, and bass at fourteen. As a young man in Europe, Vitouš was a competitive swimmer. One of his early music groups was the Junior Trio with his...
. His playing was featured on the Weather Report album Mysterious Traveller
Mysterious Traveller
Mysterious Traveller is the fourth release of Weather Report. This album marked the end of bassist Miroslav Vitous's tenure with the band. Vitous was replaced by Alphonso Johnson. Another addition to the line-up is drummer Ishmael Wilburn...
, 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 with drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Billy Cobham
Billy Cobham
William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
. During 1976-77 he recorded three solo albums as a band leader, for the Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
label, in a fusion-funk vein.
Johnson was one of the first musicians to introduce the Chapman Stick
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
to the public. His knowledge of the instrument nearly landed him a lucrative job with Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
as the replacement for guitarist Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, who had quit Genesis in 1977. Being more of a bassist than a guitarist, Johnson instead recommended his friend ex-Sweetbottom guitarist and fellow session musician Daryl Stuermer
Daryl Stuermer
Daryl Mark Stuermer is an American musician who plays guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most of his solo tours and albums.-Biography:...
, who would go on to remain a member of Genesis's touring band for the rest of their existence.
Johnson was one of two bass players on Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
's first solo album, Face Value, in 1981.
In early 1982, Johnson joined Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
member Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
's side project Bobby and the Midnites
Bobby and the Midnites
Bobby and the Midnites was a rock group led by Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. The band was Weir's main side project during the first half of the 1980s. They released two albums, but were better known for their live concerts than for their work in the recording studio...
. He would reunite with Weir in 2000, playing bass in place of Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh
Phillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
on tour with The Other Ones
The Other Ones
The Other Ones was an American rock band formed in 1998 by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart, along with part-time Grateful Dead collaborator Bruce Hornsby. In 2000, Bill Kreutzmann, another Grateful Dead alumnus, joined the group, while Phil Lesh dropped out. In...
. He has also performed fusion versions of Grateful Dead songs alongside Billy Cobham in the band Jazz Is Dead
Jazz Is Dead
Jazz is Dead is an instrumental Grateful Dead cover band that interprets classic Dead songs with jazz influences. Although the group's composition has changed over time, with T Lavitz being the only constant member, the group is notable in featuring veterans of jazz and jazz fusion ensembles[]...
.
In 1983, he performed on the hit title track from Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:...
's Stay With Me Tonight
Stay with Me Tonight (album)
Stay With Me Tonight is the second album from Jeffrey Osborne, released in 1983 on A&M Records.-Reception:The album reached number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and number 3 on the R&B album chart...
album. He then played in the Latin/rock band Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
in 1985-1989.
Later in 1996, Johnson toured Europe and Japan with composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore
David Gilmore
David Gilmore is an American jazz guitarist.Gilmore studied at New York University with Joe Lovano and Jim McNeely. In 1987 he began working professionally with the M-Base Collective and Ronald Shannon Jackson...
.
Since Fall of 2011 he is working toward a Music Education degree at Department of Music at California State University, Northridge
Department of Music at California State University, Northridge
Ranked in the top 25 accredited university programs in the nation, the Music Department at Cal State Northridge is known for superior teaching provided by 70 distinguished faculty and professional musicians...
Children
He also has two sons named Myles Ramon and Malcolm Ra Johnson, who are following in their father's footsteps as artists. Myles is studying to become a film director and Malcolm is attending The Academy of Art to graduate as an illustrator. The two are working together on a graphic novel project labeled "Roof Top Jazz".As leader
- Moonshadows (1976), EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
- Yesterdays Dreams (1976), Epic
- Spellbound (1977), Epic
As sideman
With Eddie HendersonEddie Henderson (musician)
Eddie Henderson is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Henderson's influences include Booker Little, Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw and Miles Davis.-Family influence and early music history:...
- SunburstSunburst (album)Sunburst is an album by American jazz trumpeter Eddie Henderson recorded in 1975 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Richard S...
(Blue Note, 1975)
With Santana (band)
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
- Beyond AppearancesBeyond AppearancesBeyond Appearances is the thirteenth studio album by Santana, released in 1985 .The album took seven months to make, and involved a completely different line-up from Santana's previous album . It was firmly in the style of the 1980s, making much use of synthesizers and drum machines...
(Columbia, 1985) - Abraxas PoolAbraxas PoolAbraxas Pool is a 1997 album by ex-Santana members Mike Shrieve, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, José "Chepito" Areas, Alphonso Johnson, and Mike Carabello.-Track listing:# "Boom Ba Ya Ya"...
(Miramar, 1994)
With Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
- "Bobby & The Midnights" (Arista 1981)
- "Where the Beat Meets the StreetWhere the Beat Meets the StreetWhere the Beat Meets the Street is the second studio album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir and his side-project, Bobby and the Midnites...
" (Columbia 1984)
With George Duke and Billy Cobham Band
- "Live on Tour in Europe" (Atlantic 1976)