GEORGE V JOHNSON JR

GEORGE V JOHNSON JR Director & Founder Washington DC Jazz Network Imagine listening to a seasoned jazz musician rip into a bebop solo so sizzling and smooth it makes your senses tingle. Close your eyes and play along. Try and picture the sweat bouncing off the performer like the notes that leap through the air. See if you can hear the mesmerizing melodies go up and down, bringing you through joy and sadness, taking your emotions on a sensory experience unlike any other. Now picture that musician and his beloved instrument: His voice. That's the Art of Jazz Vocalese, and that's what native D.C. son George V Johnson Jr. has been doing for over 40 years. Working as a performer, a D.C. Metro Bus driver and a New Jersey train conductor at different times throughout his life, Johnson's latest work has taken the form of pedagogy. He has become a teacher and mentor to both aspiring and established vocalists from around the area, and most recently he has lent his years of experience and talent to AU,leading the AU jazz vocal ensemble.. Vocalist, Lyricist, Actor, Playwright, Producer, Promoter, Consultant, Composer and Contributing Editor was born December 20, 1950 Washington DC. Attended Prince George’s Community College and Howard University School of Fine Arts. Self taught and first exposed to music by singing and participating regular with church and school choirs. He listened extensively, and emulated records played by his parents while growing up in the household. (Gospel, R&B, Rock & Roll, Classical, Blues and Jazz). At the age of 20 and the encouragement of family and friends, he seriously considered a career in music after realizing that he had a natural gift of writing lyrics , poetry and producing beautiful sounds with his voice. While listening to a radio broadcast about a Jazz Workshop being held at Bill Harris’ Nightclub called the “PIGFOOT” in N.E. Washington DC, he met pianist great John Malachi who help to shape and guide his career for the next 15 years. This enabled George to sing and come in contact with many of the worlds’ s finest musicians and recording artist. On one occasion he met the late Eddie Jefferson, Jazz lyricist, Hoofer and Innovator, who pioneered the art of Vocalese” (writing lyrics to improvised horn solo?s) . Jefferson set lyrics to James Moody’s classic solo “Moody’s Mood for Love”, which was first Recorded by Clarence Beeks, aka “King Pleasure “. Years later the style was perfected by Jon Hendricks (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross): His father’s love for the music and record collection exposed him to a world of entertainers. George loved to listen and emulate Jefferson, Hendricks, King Pleasure, Babs Gonzales, Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Carroll, Joe Williams, Oscar Brown Jr, James Brown, Frankie Lyman, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and many more. Later he had the rare opportunity to meet, study, travel and sing duets with Eddie Jefferson. This opened a whole new world that would shape his career for years to come. “THE MAKING OF A JAZZ SINGER” He is considered by many as “Heir Apparent” to Jefferson’s innovation and is one of the foremost practitioners of the vocalese style on the Jazz scene today. He first turned heads on his debut recording in 1981 with “Pharaoh Sanders” on the LP REJOICE and was credited with vocals and lyric on Coltrane’s classic “Moments Notice “, later reissued on CD by Evidence Music Throughout the 80's George was mentored and performed regularly with “James Moody & Lou Donaldson”. Two of the greatest saxophonist in the history of Jazz. His close association with Moody led to many Local & National Live Radio and Television Broadcasts, Carnegie Hall Kool Jazz Festivals, Town Hall Tribute to Charlie Parker w/Strings arranged by Barry Harris, South Seaport Jazz Festival, clubs throughout NYC including: Sweet Basil, Bottom Line, 7th Avenue South, Village Vanguard, Village Gate, Grand reopening of Live @ the Apollo’ Apollo Theatre, yearly Grant’s Tomb, Jazz Mobile concerts throuhout NYC NJ, Phila. Wash DC., P.A., Indiana, Ohio, Mt. Vernon NY, Binghamton NY, Springfield Ma., & Hartford Ct. Recently retired from the railroad as a train conductor, Johnson career is back on track. For the past several years performances with NEA Jazz Masters, Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Cobb, Jimmy Heath have sparked a new found interest in his career. His re-emergence on the jazz scene has blossomed to concerts at the American Jazz Museum "Tribute to Charlie Parker" with Bobby Watson, Detroit Jazz Festival with the Wallace Roney Orchestra, DC Poetry Festival, Parma Jazz Festival, Ashdod Super Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Raleigh NC, Richmond Va Jazz Festival, Bohemian Caverns and more. In 2003, George V Johnson Jr. was commissioned by Don Sickler of Second Floor Music to pen lyrics to the music of jazz legend and saxophonist, Hank Mobley. Since taking on the project Johnson has skillfully, completed over 40 of Mobley’s classic compositions and still counting. Some with complete solo’s. Critics are already saying this is one of the most important and extensive projects to be presented to the public from the jazz vocalese realm in many, many years. With Jazz Vocalese, still in a state of infancy, Johnson has almost single handedly kept the vocalese dream alive as exemplified from his performances presenting the Music of Hank Mobley. A feat unmatched by any of his peers in jazz music. His lyrics are well rounded, beautifully written and a classic work of art. In the spirit of Eddie Jefferson, Johnson’s a modern day “GRIO” telling stories our ancestors would be very proud of ...a la...Langston Hughes

Hyattsville, MD