Henry Grimes, Reggie Workman, Anthony Braxton, Pharoah Sanders, Gato Barbieri, Perry Robinson, Charles Mingus, Cecil Taylor, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, Count Basie, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson, Michael Mantler, Frank Sinatra, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra,Steve Lacy, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, The White Stripes, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Jimmy Giuffre, Van Morrison, Alice Cooper, John Cale, The Move, The Temptations, Freddie King, Howlin' Wolf, Kongar Ol Ondar, Bill Monroe, Huun Huur Tu, Gram Parsons, Lee Hazelwood, The Louvin Brothers, Tony Trischka.
Max Johnson is a New York-born jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader. A student of jazz legend Henry Grimes, Max Johnson plays with intense passion and power leading a large group of New York's finest improvisers through a huge cannon of compositions and improvisations. His playing has been compared by some to the work of William Parker, Gary Peacock and Jimmy Garrison. Max Johnson is constantly creating utilizing new groups of musicians with new timbres and creating new music. He can be found performing with his groups of various sizes, in addition to many duet concerts with tenor saxophonist Mike Wilbur.
Max Johnson can be found all over playing Upright and Electric Bass with a slew of musicians playing music ranging from Free Jazz to Bluegrass, Blues to Afro Cuban, Tuvan Traditional to Bebop and everywhere in between. In his career, Max has played with great musicians such as Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, John Wetton, Vernon Reid, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Butthole Surfers, Perry Robinson, Johnny Rodriguez, Ronnie Spector, Dr. Know, Carmine Appice, Ron Anderson, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Ike Willis, John Sinclair, Bobby Sanabria, and Andrew W.K, in addition to touring internationally. To contact Max, you can reach him at thehamsandwich600@yahoo.com
Max Johnson can be found every Monday night at the Yippie Museum Cafe presenting "Max Johnson Mystery Mondays". Each Monday a different group presenting a wide swath of jazz, organic and experimental musicians. The shows begin at 9PM and are FREE. The Yippie Museum is located at 9 Bleecker St.
*Duet with James Muschler, & Bemsha Swing were recorded live at the Yippie Museum 11/2/09. Max Johnson - Upright Bass, Adam Robinson - Tenor Saxophone, Carlos Homs - Piano, James Muschler - Drums. "Duet" composed by Max Johnson & James Muschler, "Bemsha Swing" composed by Thelonious Monk, interpreted very loosely.
*When the Saints Go Marching In, Second Song, & Emily were recorded live at the Yippie Museum 11/9/09. On "When the Saints" & "Second Song" - Max Johnson - Upright Bass, Mike Wilbur - Tenor Saxophone. On "Emily" - Max Johnson - Bass, Erika Kapin - Violin, Michael Valeanu - Guitar, Maiko Ono - Drums. "When the Saints Go Marching In" composed by Louis Armstrong, "Second Song" composed by Max Johnson and Mike Wilbur, "Emily" composed by Max Johnson".
*Lost & Found was recorded live at the Yippie Museum 11/16/09. Perry Robinson - Clarinet, Max Johnson - Bass, Glenn Johnson - Drums. "Lost & Found" composed by Max Johnson.
*Exploriscursions and Seagull was recorded live at the Yippie Museum 12/7/09. Paul Brana - Trumpet, Ellad Gellert - Alto Saxophone, Adam Robinson - Tenor Saxophone, Max Johnson Bass, Gabe Katz - Drums. All music improvised.
Wow thanks for the ask! love your no fear approach- I'd lose my reg. gig if I played like that! maybe when I come to NY we can hang out & play- I'd love that. Kim
Hello Max thank you for being a positive force in this world. Music is one of the few things left taht still has the power to bring people from different cultures together in harmony. Always feel free to contact me.
Phenomenal music!! The playing on these tracks is incredible. I love the way you've channeled all of your influences into a cohesive, and inventive sound.
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