George V Johnson Jr is Available for Bookings, lyrics, recordings, workshops, voice overs, clubs, festivals, concerts, world tours etc. Give me a call Today!

[WASHINGTON DC JAZZ NETWORK]

James Moody
And now... Ladies and Gentlemen the one and only George V Johnson Jr

OPENING NIGHT

Lyric: Wayne Prentice & George V Johnson Jr (1974)

CBS and all the rest! Warner Brothers and all the Others.....

Arnold Sterling - alto sax

Herm Hopkins - trombone

Raymond Angry - piano

James King - bass

Lenny Robinton - drums

Live in Washington DC....

Find more music like this on WASHINGTON DC JAZZ NETWORK

Photo by Maureen Sickler "Remembering Hank Mobley"

Available for Bookings

Clubs, Festivals, Master Classes, Lyrics, Recordings

Clubs, Festivals, Private Parties, World Tours

USA passport

Attended:

The University of John Malachi - 13 yrs
The University of Eddie Jefferson - 5 yrs (The Art of Jazz Vocalese)
The University of Charlie Parker - 35 yrs (Lyrics to over 30 compositions)
The University of James Moody - 10 yrs (Performance)
The University of John Coltrane (Moments Notice)
The University of Pharoah Sanders - 2 yrs (Performance - CD Rejoice)
The University of Lou Donaldson - 30 yrs (Performance & lyrics)
The University of Hank Mobley - 7 yrs (Lyrics to over 40 compositions)

Presently attending the University of Jackie Maclean

Young jazz musicians need now, and more than ever before, is jazz apprenticeship with 'elder statesmen,' outside of the context of the four walls of the collegiate corporate empire and its connected political machine. Apprenticeship is a wise and frugal way to learn this great music. Young jazz musicians must seek out wiser and older musicians who will teach them the trade of being a jazz musician as well as the fundamentals of their respective instrument in relation to the tradition, while encouraging individuality in the entire process.”

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Jazz Research New Bullentin

Announcing The release of a fantastic new product that will revolutionize the way you think about and play jazz. "The Dizzy Gillespie Method"

"OPENING NIGHT"

CBS and all the rest, Warner Brothers and all the Others...

1975 @ the Pigfott

George V Johnson Jr & John Malachi in the basement of his house on Division Avenue while arranging "Opening Night" For several years I had been telling John about this song me a buddy composed. He invited me over to the house and told me to sing the song. We broke down the song phrase by phrase and within a few hours it was finished. He asked me what is the name of the song and I told him we hadn't gave it one. John said let's call it "OPENING NIGHT". The following week John presented me on my first professional debute at Mr. Macks in S.E. Washington DC. "Your Majesty" George V Johnson Jr will perform his original composition Opening Night.

Years before while touring with Sarah Vaughn he gave her the name "Sassy Sarah Vaughn because of her sassiness as a teenager when she first joined the Billy Eckstine big band.

The band with all the killer players...Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Lucky Thompson, Fats Navarro, Gene Amons, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Pearl Bailey, Lena Horne.

George V Johnson Jr presenting John Malachi a lifetime achievement award ceremony

at Jimmy McPhail's Night Club in NE Washington DC

Photo by William Brower

For 13 years John Malachi and I shared many beautiful moments together. He opened a new world by showing me the ropes when I first came to the jazz workshop he started at the PigFoot owned and operated by Bill & Fannie Harris. I heard about the workshop while listening to the late Yale Lewis on radio station WETA. I had been singing songs around the house since I was a young kid while listening to the music my father played around the house. Some of my favorites were: Little Boy Don't Get Scared by King Pleasure, Billies Bounce, Now's the time, A Night in Tunisia vocals by Eddie Jefferson as well as Jon Hendricks and many others. Because of his relationships with many musicians during the Bebop era John was the perfect accompanist. John and Bill Harris led to my introduction to Eddie Jefferson. They both informed me that Eddie was coming to DC to perform at Fort Dupont park in 1974. He taught me so many valuable lessons on and off stage. A truly great friend and I will always cherish those wonderful moments. Next to Duke Ellington, John Malachi was probably one of the most important musicians in Washington DC.

Although they never met John Malachi and my father George V Johnson Jr passed away months apart and were buried in the same cemetary about 25 feet from each other...tears of Joy!

I love John Malachi

OPENING NIGHT -

Written by Wayne Prentice and George V Johnson Jr, arranged by John Malachi

35 years later

Larry Ridley & Jazz Legacy Ensemble presents George V Johnson Jr @ Up Over Jazz Cafe
Jed Levy - tenor sax, Virgil Jones - trumpet, Richard Wyans - piano, Jimmy Wormworth - drums April 7, 2000. CBS and all the Rest...Warner Brothers and all the Others.

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 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. Metrobus 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. ~~By Ben Lozovsky

Opening Night pt 2

George V Johnson Jr & James Moody

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.

George V Johnson Jr has graced the stage with many musicians from around the globe including Eddie Jefferson, Harold Mabern, Jamil Nasar, Richie Cole, Roy Brooks & Artistic Truth, Rueben Brown, Marshall Hawkins, Bernard Sweetney, Shirley Horn, Steve Williams, Keter Betts, Buck Hill, James Moody, Eddie Gladden, Todd Coolman, Michael Carvin, Danny Mixon, Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders CD Rejoice Moments Notice (original lyrics), Lou Donaldson, Dr Lonnie Smith, Woody Shaw, Frank Foster, George Coleman, Reggie Johnson, Kirk Lightsey, Kenny Barron, Kenny Washington, Michael Carvin, Mulgrew Miller, Barry Harris, John Hicks, David 'Fathead' Newman, Gerald Price, Bootsie Barnes, Larry Ridley & Jazz Legacy Ensemble, Doug Lawrence, Arnie Lawrence, Wes Anderson, Spike Wilner, Raymond Angry, James King, Nasar Abadey, Lenny Robinson, Buck Hill, Leonid Ptashka, Yaacov Mayman, Eric Alexander, George Coleman, Dizzy Gillespie Allstars....Cyrus Chestnut and many more.

Larry Ridley & Jazz Legacy Ensemble @ Up Over Jazz Cafe w/Virgil Jones, trumpet, Richard Wyanns, piano, Larry Ridley, bass, Jed Levy, tenor sax, Jimmy Wormworth, drums, Larry Ridley, bass, George V Johnson Jr, voice & lyrics "My Little Suede Shoes - April 7, 2000 Reunion for the Night of the Cookers. In attendance was Freddy Hubbard celebrating his 62 birthday!

Next In Line!

Eddie Jefferson & George V Johnson Jr

1977 @ Left Bank Jazz Society, Baltimore MD

" Passing the Torch"

Photo by Cortez Taylor

EXPLORE THE ART OF JAZZ VOCALESE - Singing and writing lyrics to improvised solo's of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gilespie, James Moody, Hank Mobley, Barry Harris, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Jackie McLean, Dexter Gordon, David 'Fathead' Newman, etc).

Bring the Art of Vocalese to your organization, institution, school, university, club, festival. It's fun, educational, intense and historical.

JAZZ VOCALESE WORKSHOP INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDES:
. History of the Art of Jazz Vocalese
. The Eddie Jefferson School of Bop
. The Art of Writing & Singing Good Lyrics
. Demonstration, Vocal Drills
. Importance of Diction, Rhythm, Presentation & Intonation
. Class Participation / Breakdown of Classic Solo's
. Class Reciting, Speaking, Singing & Writing original lyrics
. Repetition & Practice w/End of session performance
WORKSHOPS (SPECIAL GROUP RATES)
. 1 to 10 week programs or 1-5 day workshops
. Elementary / Jr., High / High Schools
. Colleges / Universities
. Master Classes / Seminars / Private Instructions / Artist in Residence

Johnson has written lyrics to over 30 Charlie Parker compositions

most recently put lyrics to over 40 Hank Mobley compositions.

George V Johnson Jr & Lou Donaldson Quartet

Dizzy's Coca Cola Club

Johnson's made his debute recording in 1981 as featured vocalist with Pharoah Sanders LP Rejoice! Original lyrics to John Coltrane's classic "Moments Notice". George V Johnson Jr at All About Jazz

COLTRANE’S classic “Moments Notice” is a complete gas! Sanders like Coltrane, pulls and holds attention with his entrances. Bobby Hutcherson and Hicks solo’s are heated and models of vivid imagination. The three put forth some of the very best solo’s in the entire album. The there’s the arresting new talent introduced here on compact disc in debute - GEORGE V JOHNSON JR., whose marvelous lyrics and vocal work are truly auspicous! He sngs with James Moody on ocassion and is happily remindflul of the insistent giftness of the late EDDIE JEFFERSON. Johnson’s three stanzars close with ”Relax dig the sounds of Coltrane’s Music. Coltrane fills your heart with love and harmony. Trane played with magic. Listen to the melodies and you will see momently. When you here the message of his song!”. There’s no doubt in my mind that henceforth George V Johnson should and will be sought for his own gift to the music. He sang the song for Sanders at the Village Vanguard, and Sanders “felt that George ought to be heard”. Thank you, Pharoah Sanders for your spirit of sharing! Wheeeeee....what a dynamite track this is~~~~HERBIE WONG!

GVJ 2nd from far right

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

Just back from a successful performance at the Parma Jazz Festival 2010 in Parma, Italy

Todd Barkan, Spike Wilner, GVJ. Antonio Ciaaca (Festival Producer), Wes Anderson and Guisy Ciaaca

Featured with Wes Anderson - alto sax & Spike Wilner

A Tribute to Charlie Parker
We performed to a full auditorium of jazz fans in Parma, Italy

Parma Italy Jazz Festival May 5 - 8th 2010 w/ Antonio Ciacca, Joe L...

Dizzy Gilespie's "A NIGHT IN TUNISIA" featuring
George V Johnson Jr

Yaacov Mayman
@ Israel International Jazz Super Jazz Festival Ashdod 10/09

Video performances at the Israel International Super Jazz Festival ...

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BTR | Shows & Blogs

Talkin Jazz with Jazz Legend Benny Golson 2/11/2010 - George V ...

Feb 11, 2010 ... Exploring Americas Classical Music Jazz w/BENNY GOLSON Multitalented and internationally ... Host Name: George V Johnson Jr. Show

THE GEORGE V JOHNSON JR SHOW. Exploring America's Classical Music "JAZZ". Interviews with Trudy Pitts, Harold Mabern, Lou Donaldson, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Larry Ridley, Nelson Harrison, Bill Easley, Ralph Peterson, Wallace Roney, Jimmy Cobb, Donald Harrison, Frank Foster, Gerald Wilson, Frank Proto, Little Jimmy Scott, Freddy Redd,

Winard Harper and more to come...

Dr. Larry Ridley

Co-Host

Executive Director
AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ CAUCUS
212-979-0304