Marc Johnson
Encyclopedia
Marc Johnson, bassist, composer and band leader, was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1953, and grew up in Texas. At 19 he was working professionally with the Fort Worth Symphony, and while at the University of North Texas he played in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band while also was the principal bassist in the NTSU Symphony. In 1978, Marc joined legendary pianist Bill Evans’ in what would be Evans’ last trio with whom he toured and recorded until the death of the pianist in 1981. His many recording credits since then include discs with Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, Gary Burton, John Abercrombie, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, Eliane Elias, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Baron, Philly Joe Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, Paul Motian, and many others. Marc has also appeared as a leader of his own bands starting with “Bass Desires” which gained international recognition following two ECM recordings in the the mid-eighties. This group featured John Scofield and Bill Frisell on guitars and Peter Erskine on drums. He also recorded two cds of his own group “right Brain Patrol” for Winter and Winter Records, followed by his Sound of Summer Running release on Verve. His most recent recording as a leader is titled “Shades of Jade” . It was released on ECM records in October of 2005. “Shades of Jade” was featured in TIME MAGAZINE, October 17 issue “5 CDS THAT REALLY SWING”, as one of the five top jazz releases of the season. It was selected by the Chicago Tribune as one of the 10 best Jazz recordings of 2005 and also received the “Danish Music Award” for Best Foreign Release in 2005. It features pianist and composer Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone, John Scofield on guitar, Joey Baron on drums.
Marc Johnson has a new recording featuring Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano and Joey Baron slated for release in 2012 on ECM records.
With Gary Burton
With Bill Evans
With Joe Lovano
With Pat Martino
With Ralph Towner
Marc Johnson has a new recording featuring Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano and Joey Baron slated for release in 2012 on ECM records.
As leader
- 1985: Bass DesiresBass Desires (album)Bass Desires is a 1985 studio album by jazz bassist Marc Johnson released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos awarded the album 4½ stars stating "The pairing of electric guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield had to be one of the most auspicious since John...
(ECM) - 1987: Second SightSecond Sight (Marc Johnson album)Second Sight is a 1987 studio album by jazz bassist Marc Johnson released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "This advanced unit performs eight group originals that cover a wide variety of moods, from introspective, spacy pieces to ones...
(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 AbercrombieJohn Abercrombie (guitarist)
John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist, whose work often explores jazz fusion and post bop. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker...
- Current EventsCurrent Events (album)Current Events is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine recorded in 1985 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1985) - Getting ThereGetting There (album)Getting There is a 1988 release by John Abercrombie, featuring his working trio of the time, including bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine. Additionally, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker makes guest appearances on three tracks...
(ECM, 1987) - John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter ErskineJohn Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter ErskineJohn Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine is a live album by guitarist John Abercrombie with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine recorded in 1988 in Boston and released on the ECM label-Reception:...
(ECM, 1988) - NovemberNovember (album)November is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie with saxophonist John Surman, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Peter Erskine recorded in 1992 and released on the ECM label-Reception:...
(ECM, 1992) - Cat 'n' MouseCat 'n' MouseCat 'n' Mouse is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie with violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Joey Baron recorded in 2000 and released on the ECM label-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:...
(ECM, 2000) - Class TripClass Trip (album)Class Trip is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie with violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Joey Baron recorded in 2003 and released on the ECM label-Reception:...
(ECM, 2003) - The Third QuartetThe Third QuartetThe Third Quartet is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie with violinist Mark Feldman, bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Joey Baron recorded in 2006 and released on the ECM label-Reception:...
(ECM, 2006)
With Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
- Times Like TheseTimes Like These (Gary Burton album)Times Like These is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded in 1988 and released on the GRP label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "Burton sounds fine on the diverse material...
(GRP, 1988)
With Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
- We Will Meet AgainWe Will Meet AgainWe Will Meet Again is an album by jazz pianist Bill Evans made for Warner Bros. Records in 1979. It is notable in that it is Evans' last studio recording.-Reception:...
(Warner Bros., 1979) - HomecomingHomecoming (Bill Evans album)-Track listing:# "Re: Person I Knew" - 4:03# "Midnight Mood" - 6:22# "Laurie" - 7:46# "Theme from M*A*S*H " - 4:11# "Turn Out the Stars" - 4:52# "Very Early" - 5:11...
(Milestone, 1979) - The Paris Concert: Edition OneThe Paris Concert: Edition One-Track listing:# "I Do It for Your Love" - 6:18# "Quiet Now" - 5:55# "Noelle's Theme" - 4:20# "My Romance" - 9:15...
(Elektra Musician, 1979) - The Paris Concert: Edition TwoThe Paris Concert: Edition Two-Track listing:# "Re: Person I Knew" - 5:22# "Gary's Theme" - 5:31# "Letter to Evan" - 4:50# "34 Skidoo" - 6:45# "Laurie" - 8:06# "Nardis" - 17:31# Interview - 1:46*Recorded in Paris, France on November 29, 1979.-Personnel:...
(Elektra Musician, 1979) - Letter to EvanLetter to Evan-Track listing:# "Emily" - 5:33# "Days of Wine and Roses" - 8:25# "Knit for Mary F." - 6:07# "Like Someone in Love" - 7:06# "Your Story" - 3:56...
(Dreyfus, 1980) - Turn Out the Stars: The Final Village Vanguard RecordingsTurn Out the Stars: The Final Village Vanguard Recordings-Track listing:Disc One# "Bill's Hit Tune" - 7:47# "Nardis" - 15:37# "If You Could See Me Now" - 5:42# "The Two Lonely People" - 7:10# "Laurie" - 6:32...
(Dreyfus, 1980) - The Last Waltz: The Final RecordingsThe Last Waltz: The Final Recordings-Track listing:Disc One:# "After You, Who?" -Track listing:Disc One:# "After You, Who?" -Track listing:Disc One:# "After You, Who?" (Cole Porter - 2:41# "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) - 6:56# "Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Burke, Van Heusen) - 7:03# "Emily" (Johnny Mandel,...
(Milestone, 1980) - Consecration: The Final Recordings Part 2Consecration: The Final Recordings Part 2-Track listing:Disc One:# "Re: Person I Knew" - 5:54# "Tiffany" - 5:46# "My Foolish Heart" - 5:24# "Song from M*A*S*H " - 4:27# "Knit for Mary F." - 8:11...
(Milestone, 1980)
With Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
- Village RhythmVillage RhythmVillage Rhythm is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano recorded in 1988 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1988) - LandmarksLandmarks (Joe Lovano album)Landmarks is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano recorded in 1990 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "Although the title of this CD makes it sound as if tenor-saxophonist Joe Lovano was performing...
(Blue Note, 1990)
With Pat Martino
Pat Martino
Pat Martino is an Italian-American jazz guitarist and composer within the post bop, fusion, mainstream jazz, soul jazz and hard bop idioms.-Biography:...
- The Maker (Evidence, 1994)
With Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion and trumpet.-Biography:...
- Lost and FoundLost and Found (Ralph Towner album)Lost and Found is an album by guitarist Ralph Towner recorded in 1995 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "This is a guitar player's recording, but it is obvious that Towner writes for ensembles equally well, and he has...
(ECM, 1995)