George V Johnson Jr.

Male

Washington, DC

United States

Profile Information:

What instrument do you play?

Who influenced you to listen to jazz

Mr & Mrs George V & Delores Johnson

How did you find out about the WDCJN?

George V Johnson Jr - Administrator/Creator

My Website

http://washingtondcjazznetwork.ning.com/profile/georgevjohnsonjr

Official Facebook Profile

http://www.facebook.com/georgevjohnsonjr

Where are you located?

Washington DC

Tell us about yourself

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 & Television Broadcasts, Carnegie Hall Kool Jazz Festivals, Town Hall Tribute to Charlie Parker w/Strings arranged by Barry Harris, So Seaport Jazz Festival, clubs throughout NYC including: Sweet Basil, Bottom Line, 7th Ave South, Village Vanguard, Village Gate, 1985 Grand reopening of Apollo Theater, 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.

Also an accomplished actor, he’s appeared in the Soldier’s Play, Mighty Gents, Hollywood Hussle, My Mark My Name, Garvey, Trials & Tribulations of Stagger Lee Booker T Brown, with Ricky Payton they penned the lyrics for “Santa”s Starship & more.

In 1979 with Howard University, he Premiered in a 6 month European Tour of the Broadway Musical “RAISIN” and “SOUL OF SOUL”, playing sold out performances at Stat Theatre's throughout Switzerland in St. Gallen, Geneva, Zurich, Bern, Luzerne, Basel, Lugano, Liechtenstein including three months in Paris, France.


Johnson says, playing with Donaldson Lou was like singing with Charlie Parker. He was able to sing all his “BIRD” lyrics while Donaldson would play along while he sang the solo’s note for note. Being on stage with Lou Donaldson was one of the greatest feelings you could imagine. They first met in 1975 at the Pigfoot Jazz Club located in Washington DC when Donaldson dropped by to see longtime freind and pianist John Malachi. It was there where they both met and played together on “NOW”S THE TIME”. Whenever George shows up at his concerts unannounced, Lou doesn’t hesitate to bring him up to sing.

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. Some with complete solo’s. Critics are already saying this is one of the most important & extensive projects to be presented to the public from the jazz vocalese realm in 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.

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