Editing Alphonso Johnson

{{Short description|American jazz bassist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Alphonso Johnson
| image           = Alphonso Johnson.jpg
| image_size      = 250
| landscape       = yes
| caption         = Johnson in [[Rochester, New York]], 1977
| birth_name      =
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1951|02|02}}
| birth_place     = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Jazz fusion]]
* [[jazz]]
* [[funk]]}}
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* composer
* educator}}
| instrument      = {{flatlist|
* Bass guitar
* double bass
* [[Chapman stick]]}}
| years_active    = 1970–present
| label           = [[Epic Records|Epic]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS Records]]
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Weather Report]]
* [[Bobby and the Midnites]]
* [[Jazz Is Dead (band)|Jazz Is Dead]]
*[[Steve Kimock Band]]
* [[Santana (band)|Santana]]}}
| website         = {{URL|www.embamba.com}}
}}

'''Alphonso Johnson''' (born February 2, 1951)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|pages=1292/3}}</ref> is an American [[jazz]] [[bass guitar|bassist]] active since the early 1970s. Johnson was a member of the [[jazz fusion]] group [[Weather Report]] from 1973 to 1975, and has performed and recorded with numerous high-profile rock and jazz acts including [[Santana (band)|Santana]], [[Phil Collins]], members of the [[Grateful Dead]], [[Steve Kimock]], and [[Chet Baker]].

==Biography==
Born in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Johnson started off as an [[upright bass]] player, but switched to the [[bass guitar|electric bass]] in his late teens.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> 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]],<ref name="am">{{cite web|title =Alphonso Johnson: Biography |first=Scott|last=Yanow |publisher=Allmusic| url ={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=alphonso-johnson-p90895|pure_url=yes}} |access-date =15 July 2011}}</ref> taking over for co-founding member [[Miroslav Vitous]]. Johnson debuted with [[Weather Report]] on the album ''[[Mysterious Traveller]]''.  He appeared on two more Weather Report albums: ''[[Tale Spinnin']]'' (1975) and ''[[Black Market (Weather Report album)|Black Market]]'' (1976) before he left the band to work with [[drummer]] [[Billy Cobham]].<ref name="am"/> During 1976-77 he recorded three solo albums as a [[band leader]], for the [[Epic Records|Epic]] label, in a fusion-funk vein.

Johnson was one of the first musicians to introduce the [[Chapman Stick]] to the public. In 1977, his knowledge of the instrument offered him a rehearsal with [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], who were looking for a replacement for guitarist [[Steve Hackett]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/Alphonso-Johnson.html|title=forbassplayersonly.com: Alphonso Johnson|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001637/http://forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/Alphonso-Johnson.html|archive-date=2 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 until the band's [[The Last Domino? Tour|final concert in 2022]].

Johnson was one of two bass players on [[Phil Collins]]'s first solo album, [[Face Value (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 (band)|Jazz Is Dead]].

In 1996, Johnson played bass on tracks "[[Dance on a Volcano]]" and "[[The Fountain Of Salmacis|Fountain of Salmacis]]" on Steve Hackett's ''[[Genesis Revisited]]'' album.

Later in 1996, Johnson toured Europe and Japan with composer and saxophonist [[Wayne Shorter]], pianist [[Jim Beard|James Beard]], drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist [[David Gilmore]].

He has an extensive experience as a bass teacher and has conducted bass seminars and clinics in Germany,<ref name="Warwick">{{cite news|author =Wetzel, Michael|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ln9H3y71L8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/2ln9H3y71L8| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Video: German Warwick Bass Guitars|newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle|Deutsche Welle TV]]|date=11 September 2013|access-date=8 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author =Herrera, Jonathan|title=Warwick Bass Camp 2013: The Best of the Bass|url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19723-warwick-bass-camp-2013-the-best-of-the-bass|access-date=23 February 2015|newspaper=[[Premier Guitar]]|date=30 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Pilger, Georg |author2=Schmitz, Ralf |url=http://www.jazzrocktv.de/jazzrocktv-75-warwick-bass-camp-2013/|title=Video: Warwick Bass Camp 2013|newspaper=JazzrockTV|date=5 January 2014|access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://basscamp.gitarrebass.de/dozenten/Alphonso-Johnson.html|title=Alphonso Johnson|newspaper=Gitarre & Bass Magazine|access-date=27 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204072034/http://basscamp.gitarrebass.de/dozenten/Alphonso-Johnson.html|archive-date=4 December 2013}}</ref> England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil and Argentina.

Johnson started his college education at [[Los Angeles Pierce College|Pierce College]], and then transferred to [[California State University, Northridge]], where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2014. As an undergraduate student, Johnson performed as a member of the CSUN Wind Ensemble. He pursued his graduate degree at CSU Northridge, earning a Master of Arts in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in 2021. He serves as an adjunct instructor at the [[University of Southern California]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.usc.edu/alphonso-johnson/|title=Alphonso Johnson &#124; USC Thornton School of Music|website=music.usc.edu|date=11 October 2017 }}</ref> and the [[California Institute of the Arts]].

==Equipment==
=== Electric basses ===
* Fender Precision, extensively modified
* Chapman Stick
* Lobue Custom
* [[Warwick (bass guitar)|Warwick]] Alphonso Johnson Custom Shop Bass Guitar<ref name="Warwick"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_a2Bs5pfjE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/E_a2Bs5pfjE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Video: Warwick Custom Shop Basses: Jack Bruce Signature for Alphonso Johnson|date=23 September 2013 |publisher=Warwick|access-date=26 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[Warwick (bass guitar)|Warwick]] Infinity
* [[Vigier Guitars|Vigier]] Arpege 5 fretless
* [[Modulus Guitars|Modulus]] Quantum 5 String Fretted and Fretless Bass

===Acoustic basses===
* Washburn AB45

==Discography==
=== As leader/co-leader ===
* ''[[Moonshadows (album)|Moonshadows]]'' ([[Epic Records|Epic]], 1976)
* ''[[Yesterday's Dreams (Alphonso Johnson album)|Yesterday's Dreams]]'' (Epic, 1976) 
* ''[[Spellbound (Alphonso Johnson album)|Spellbound]]'' (Epic, 1977)
* ''Alivemutherforya'' with [[Billy Cobham]], [[Steve Khan]], [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]], 1978)

=== As a member ===
'''[[Weather Report]]'''
* ''[[Mysterious Traveller]]'' ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]], 1974) – rec. 1973–74
* ''[[Tale Spinnin']]'' (Columbia, 1975)
* ''[[Black Market (Weather Report album)|Black Market]]'' (Columbia, 1976) – rec. 1975–76

'''[[Santana (band)|Santana]]'''
* ''[[Beyond Appearances]]'' (Columbia, 1985) – rec. 1984
* ''[[Freedom (Santana album)|Freedom]]'' (Columbia, 1987)
* ''[[Spirits Dancing in the Flesh]]'' (Columbia, 1990)

'''[[Jazz Is Dead (band)|Jazz Is Dead]]'''
* ''[[Blue Light Rain]]'' (Zebra, 1998)
* ''[[Laughing Water]]'' (Zebra, 1999) – live
* ''[[Great Sky River (album)|Great Sky River]]'' (Zebra, 2001) – live
* ''[[Grateful Jazz]]'' (Pet Peev, 2015) – rec. 2004

=== As sideman ===
'''With [[Bob Weir]]'''
* ''[[Bobby and the Midnites (album)|Bobby and the Midnites]]'' ([[Arista Records|Arista]], 1981)
* ''[[Where the Beat Meets the Street]]'' (Columbia, 1984)

'''With others'''
* [[Chet Baker]], [[You Can't Go Home Again (album)|You Can't Go Home Again]]'' (Horizon, 1977)
* [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]], ''[[Just Family]]'' (Elektra, 1977)
* [[George Cables]], ''[[Shared Secrets (album)|Shared Secrets]]'' (MuseFX, 2001)
* [[Phil Collins]], ''[[Face Value (album)|Face Value]]'' (Virgin, 1981)
* [[George Duke]], ''[[The Aura Will Prevail]]'' (MPS, 1975)
* [[George Duke]], ''[[Liberated Fantasies]]'' (MPS, 1976)
* George Duke-[[Billy Cobham]] Band, ''"Live" on Tour in Europe'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1976)
* [[Steve Hackett]], ''[[Genesis Revisited]]'' (Camino, 1996)
* [[Eddie Henderson (musician)|Eddie Henderson]], ''[[Sunburst (Eddie Henderson album)|Sunburst]]'' (Blue Note, 1975)
* [[Allan Holdsworth]], ''[[Velvet Darkness]]'' (CTI, 1976)
* [[Chuck Mangione]], ''[[Land of Make Believe (Chuck Mangione album)|Land of Make Believe]]'' ([[Mercury Records|Mercury]], 1973)
* [[Hermeto Pascoal]], ''[[Slaves Mass]]'' (Warner Bros., 1977)
* [[Abraxas Pool]], ''[[Abraxas Pool]]'' (Miramar, 1997)
* [[Flora Purim]], ''[[Open Your Eyes You Can Fly]]'' (Milestone, 1976)
* [[Carlos Santana]] and [[Wayne Shorter]], ''[[Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter – Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1988|Live at the 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival ]]'' (Image Entertainment, 2005)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Alphonso Johnson}}
* {{Official website|https://www.embamba.com|The Alphonso Johnson official website}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctWSn9rdr_M&t=35s 'Ep. 45: Alphonso Johnson, bassist from the Weather Report'] Interview by Tigran Arakelyan

{{Weather Report}}
{{Santana}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Alphonso}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American jazz bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:Chapman Stick players]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Weather Report members]]
[[Category:20th-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:The Other Ones members]]
[[Category:Bobby and the Midnites members]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Jazz Is Dead members]]
[[Category:Catalyst (band) members]]