finetune artist: Marc Johnson

b. 21 October 1953, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. After studying at North Texas State University Johnson spent the greater part of a year on the road playing bass with Woody Herman's big band. After this intensive learning experience, he auditioned in early 1978 as replacement for Eddie Gomez with the Bill Evans trio. Securing this job not only brought Johnson fulfilment of a dream he had nurtured since his days as a student, but also presented him on the world stage with a major jazz artist. After two years with Evans, Johnson played with Stan Getz, then led his own groups, including Bass Desires and the Right Brain Patrol trio, which featured guitarist Ben Monder and percussionist Arto Tuncboyaci. He also played with several South American musicians, including bandoneon player Dino Saluzzi and pianists Enrico Peranunzi and Eliane Elias, recording with the latter on 1997's The Three Americas. Apart from his own small bands, Johnson has also sought the company of leading guitarists for recording sessions, obviously finding this particular combination of stringed instruments, bass and guitar, very much to his taste. On a 1985 album he teamed up with John Scofield and Bill Frisell, then in the late 90s celebrated his signing to Verve Records by recording with Frisell and Pat Metheny.

Listen to Marc Johnson at Finetune.

Summer Running
For A Thousand Years
1951
Blue Nefertiti
In A Quiet Place