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This project was made possible by funding through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy and the Heritage Policy Branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Canadian Heritage

John Johnson

Biography

JOHN JOHNSON (saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, piccolo and harmonica player) is a rare combination of musical sensitivity and technical ability. Able to play just about anything, he is highly respected Juno Award-winning mainstay on the Toronto music scene. An adept recording session player in high demand, he is also a regular member of many popular bands.

Johnson is equally at home playing the funk/fusion sounds of Soul Stew, the high-energy Latin fusion of The Montuno Police, jazz standards with The Barlow Group, and classic blues with Michael Pickett. Other bands he has worked with include Cimmaron, Vector, The Boss Brass, and Mantecca.

In addition to all the saxophones from sopranino through to baritone, he is proficient on piccolo, flute, alto flute, clarinet, and bass clarinet, versatility which has lent itself to concerts with such diverse performers as Molly Johnson, Holly Cole, Diane Krall, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Dionne Warwick, Peabo Bryson, Cal Dodd, Dianne Reeves, Bill Mays, the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, as well as guest spots with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on a number of occasions.

He is also a respected educator, currently on the faculty of Jazz Studies at Humber College in Toronto, instructing in Saxophone.

John Johnson was featured as leader of his own John Johnson Quartet in the “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert Series on January 29, 1996.