Howard Lewis Johnson was born August 7, 1941, in Montgomery, Alabama. Moved with family to Massillon, Ohio in 1944. Taught himself baritone saxophone in 1954, then learned tuba a year later. Moved to New York City, February, 1963.
Charles Mingus - tuba - 1964-66-1972-74
Hank Crawford - baritone sax - 1965-67
Gil Evans - 1966-1988
tuba, bari-sax, bass sax, bass clarinet
Archie Shepp - tuba - 1966-68
Buddy Rich - 1966 - bari-sax and bass clarinet
In Los Angeles
Gerald Wilson - bari-sax - 1967 and 1972
Oliver Nelson -1 967 and 1972 - tuba
Quincy Jones - tuba (studio) - 1972
Jazz Composer's Orchestra - 1968-70
(Carla Bley, Mike Mantler, Cecil Taylor, Pharoah Sanders)
Charlie Hayden's Liberation Music Orchestra - 1968 - tuba (studio)
SUBSTRUCTURE /GRAVITY - 1968 - present.
Taj Mahal-1971 - tuba, bari-sax, flugelhorn
("The Real Thing" live at Fillmore East/Sony-Legacy)
Gato Barbieri - 1974-75 - electric bass
John Lennon - 1974, 1975-1980 - bari-sax, arranger
Saturday Night Live - 1975-1980 - bari-sax, tuba, arranger
(bandleader in 1979-80 season)
The Band - 1971 - ("Rock of Ages") and 1976 ("The Last Waltz")
B. B. King - 1973 - bari-sax, arranger
Paul Butterfield's Better Days - 1973-74 - bari-sax, arranger
Oakland Symphony - 1977 - arranger for Taj Mahal
George Gruntz - 1976-present - tuba, bari-sax, bass clarinet.
Abdullah Ibrahim - 1987-90 - bari-sax
Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition
1984-87
Dizzy Gillespie Big Band 70th Birthday
European and Japan Tours - 1987
George Gruntz's jazz operas
"The Holy Grail of Jazz and Joy" - 1987
"Cosmopolitan Greetings"-1988
(Principal roles)
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
Hi Hojo- Great to see you at the Bill Lee concert at Bargemusic. I just got back from a week in S. of France with Black Rock Coalition's Nina Simone Tribute. - My first flight since the back brace came off! Yeah!
Hey, I hope you’re well. I’m still in NYC and I’m excited to have another full band concert coming up soon: Tues, Oct 27, 7.30-9.00 pm Zinc Bar NYC (82 West 3rd Street) I’d love to see you there! Greetings from your Swiss brother, blessings, Vlada www.vladamusic.com
Our song 'Yellow Suit' climbed up the first FRIEND VOTE Indie Top 100 Chart at No. 2!! on this week. Maybe our friends can help us get no 1 for Monday.
Vote for AMYCANBE at http://www.myspace.com/indietop100 Until again, all the best, Amycanbe
Yes!!! We are in PEACE, compilation for Amnesty International out next January, along with other great names. See our blog section for infos. Cheers!!
Hey How have you been? I’m sorry you haven’t heard from me in a while, I was travelling a lot and preparing the release of my album. But I’ll be back in NYC and playing there soon: Sat, Sept 26th, 8pm, Samantha’s, East Northport Tues, Sept 29th, 9.30pm, The Bitter End, Manhattan I’d love to see you there! Greetings from your Swiss brother, blessings, Vlada VLADA "All about you" feat. Take 6, K. Whalum, A. Laboriel, V. Colaiuta, P. Jackson Jr. Pre-Release CD: www.vladamusic.com Now available on iTunes. In stores in January 2010.
Peace, MJ The Coast Radio NJ www.myspace.com/thecoastnj The Coast Radio Network http://thecoast.ning.com Gospel Music Network http://gospelmusicnetwork.ning.com
CAREER OVERVIEW
DISCOGRAPHY (All on Verve)
Online Now!
