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Jeff Johnson (musician)

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Jeff Johnson
Background information
OriginCamano Island, Washington, United States
GenresProgressive rock, Celtic, new-age Contemplative
Years active1980–present
LabelsArk Records
WebsiteArk Records

Jeff Johnson (born 1956) [1]is a recording artist, composer, and producer who has released numerous solo and collaborative recordings. Born near Portland, Oregon, he currently resides on Camano Island in the state of Washington.[2][3]

His early work was vocal progressive-rock, but his sound has since evolved to jazz, new-age, instrumental,[4] contemplative and Celtic styles.[4] His works also include several musical releases based[5] on books penned by fantasy author Stephen Lawhead. Johnson's instrumental releases cover a broad spectrum of Celtic, new-age, jazz and world music genres.

In addition to recording, Johnson has lead a Christian contemplative worship service called Selah featuring music, scripture, poetry and silent prayer. [6]

Vocal Recordings

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Johnson's early vocal recordings were stylistically progressive rock. The lyrics were inspired by a diverse group of authors, artists and historical figures including C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, George MacDonald, Blaise Pascal, Francis Schaeffer, Tom Stoppard, William Shakespeare, Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Ludwig II of Bavaria.

His first recording efforts, The Anvil Of God's Word and Please Forgive Us, Lord were released on vinyl in 1976 and 1977. A selection of the two album’s songs were compiled on a CD entitled Early Songs as part of the ArkMusic Special Editions series.

His first album, The Face of the Deep (1980), managed to conjure aural landscapes in the ears of his listeners with his synthesizer infused progressive rock renditions of fantasy works. The album begins with the pensive image of Rodin's The Thinker. Songs are inspired by writings such as Charles Williams' All Hallows' Eve, and by the paintings of Gauguin and Renoir's The Moulin de la Galette. Johnson completes his treatment of these aural landscapes with on-location recordings of atmospheric sounds such as rain storms and creaking gates - incorporating them into the music in an artful way.

On his second album, he collaborated with Sandy Simpson to record Through the Door (1982), which took up the theme of spiritual quest inspired by the novels of George MacDonald (The Golden Key). It also continued the use of synthesizers in the slightly sci-fi themed song, The Jupiter Effect.

Johnson continued the theme of the spiritual quest on albums such as: Fallen Splendour and Pilgrimage. Incorporating influences from several of the Inklings, including a song inspired by C.S. Lewis — Dream of the Island (Similitudes).

His more recent vocal works are more liturgically inspired. Lyrics include passages from the Biblical Psalms as well as prayers by early Irish saints Columba and Patrick as well as Teresa of Ávila and Francis of Assisi.

Collaborations

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Sandy Simpson

Johnson first met Oregon guitarist and singer, Sandy Simpson, in l979 while working as composers at a Portland Oregon commercial music company, Alpha Seven Productions.[7] They would record two fantasy based releases, “Through the Door” (1982)[8] and “The Awakening” (1986). Simpson also made significant contributions as a producer and performer on Johnson’s “Shadow Play” (1983), “Icons” (1984), “Fallen Splendor” (1986) and “Pilgrimage” (1989). The pair would also produce and record a string of contemporary instrumental recordings together including “No Shadow of Turning” (1985) featuring Dieter Zander and Kathy McClatchy, “Why Should the Heart Not Dance?” (1988) featuring Kathy McClatchy, and “This Mystery I Pose” (1988).

David Friesen

Oregon jazz bassist, David Friesen first appeared on Jeff Johnson’s “Shadow Play” (1983). The two would go on to enjoy a fruitful collaboration with new age instrumental recordings, “Born of Water” (1986) with Dave Hagelganz and “Inner Voices” (1987) with Paul Horn. Johnson would engineer and coproduce three additional Friesen jazz instrumental releases, “Other Times, Other Places” (1989) with Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Denny Zeitlin and Alan Jones, “Departure” (1990) with Uwe Kropinski and “Long Trip Home” (1992).\

Dallas McKennon Jeff first met actor/voice talent, Dallas McKennon in 1982 when he and Sandy Simpson asked him to perform the wizard’s voice for “Through the Door.” McKennon would again appear as the wizard on “The Awakening” (1986) and be recite all of the poems for “Centerpoint – Poetry and Music for Christmas” (1990).

Brian Dunning Jeff began working with Irish flutist Brian Dunning on the 1986 children’s soundtrack for “The Tale of Three Trees.” The two met in Portland, Oregon while Brian was still a member of Nightnoise. Dunning would be a regular featured soloist on most all of Johnson’s solo recordings though 2022.

Their collaboration began with the seasonal “Centerpoint - Poetry and Music for Christmas” (1990) and then include a string of recordings based on the historical fiction novels by Stephen R. Lawhead including “Songs from Albion 1” (1992), “Songs from Albion 2” (1993), “Songs from Albion 3” (1994), “Byzantium - The Book of Kells and St. Aidan’s Journey” (2000), “Patrick” (2003), “King Raven - Vols. 1 - 3” (2008) and “Eirlandia” (2018). The Smooth Jazz Ride calls the collaboration on Erilandia, "a great reunion of musical minds bent on excellence."[9]

Johnson and Dunning also recorded the instrumental “The Bard and the Warrior” (2001) inspired by two Lawhead stories based on the Irish folklore heroes, Taliesin and Cú Chulainn.

Johnson and Dunning’s final collaboration was a musical rendition of the W.B. Yeats (1865 - 1939) “The Lake Isle of Innisfree.” After Dunning's death in 2022, Johnson released two retrospective albums featuring the duo’s thirty-five year collaboration. “Coming, Going” and “Winter Songs”

Janet Chvatal Soprano Janet Marie Chvatal was first featured on “Psalmus” (1996). Ms. Chvatal also made significant contributions to Johnson’s “Prayers of St. Brendan - The Journey Home” (1998), “Vespers - light into Light” (2005), “Standing Still” (2007, “Journey Prayers” (2009), “Broken, Gazing” (2014), “Lauds” (2020), “Caim” (2021) and a single release of Albert Hay Malotte’s “The Lord’s Prayer” (2023). Janet also regularly contributed to the Contemporary Celtic releases by Johnson and Brian Dunning.

Phil Keaggy

Jeff Johnson and renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy began a multi-record collaboration in 2009, reconnecting at Laity Lodge on the Frio River in the Texas Hill Country. The two began a unique way of working sending tracks back and forth via the internet. While they have performed together on the WinterSky tour in 2014, the duo have never been in the same room when making their studio recordings. "We send tracks back and forth via the internet. One of us comes up with an initial idea and then formats it to allow the other person to add his bits and then continue with any new ideas," Johnson said in an interview. Those recordings include “Frio Suite”, (2009), “WaterSky” (2012), “Cappadocia” (2019), “Ravenna” (2021) and, “Spinning on a Cosmic Dime” (2024). John Diliberto, the host and producer of the syndicated Echoes, has chosen each of the duo’s releases as an “Echoes CD of the Month” [10]and writes that “the real place that Johnson and Keaggy create is of the imagination and wonder.” [11] He describes their “Spinning on a Cosmic Dime” as “a masterwork of guitar and keyboard orchestrations which will spin you into reverie and dreams.”[12]

John Van Deusen Many of Jeff Johnson’s instrumental recordings have been influenced by “ambient music.” When Jeff met alternative musician John Van Deusen, the two discovered that they shared a mutual love for the genre and soon set out to record “Eremo” (2024). Kevin Belmonte (All Nine) describes the music as “recurring waves of theme and sound, purposeful and lovely.” [13]

Other ambient recordings include “A Thin Silence” (2006), which Peter Manzi described in New Age Retailer(January 2007) as “a minimalist and ambient recording of sublime and introspective beauty.” Johnson also co-produced ambient guitarist Jeff Pearce's debut, “Tenderness and Fatality” (1993).

John Fitzpatrick Johnson and Brian Dunning were joined by Belfast violinist, John Fitzpatrick on a compilation of the favorite hymns of Ruth Bell Graham (Mrs. Billy Graham) entitled “A Quiet Knowing - Canticles for the Heart” (2000). The recording was made into a film of the same name released by Thomas Nelson Publishers featuring live performances of Johnson, Dunning, Fitzpatrick and Portland, Oregon guitarist, Tim Ellis.

Musical style

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Johnson's musical versatility has been praised:

Johnsons's music has been dubbed 'intelligent pop', 'new age', and 'jazz lite' — but he is quick to point out that his records have nothing to do with the New Age movement. "I was doing my style of music before anybody was talking about the New Age Movement."

— Bob Longman Jr[14]

Sample any of his 50 albums that he has recorded and sold through Ark Records, and you'll hear hints of Irish folk, modern pop, jazz, mystical world music, and historical Christmas tunes. He's recorded concept albums based on Stephen Lawhead books, ancient prayers, and iconic figures. All of this variety isn't just to be clever; rather it's a celebration of the many nuances that good music can absorb.

— The High Calling (2013)[15]

There is thought and purpose behind every note here that makes you feel like you see different shades of nature while floating along a river.

— Matt Crosslin, Review of Water Sky[16]

Cascadian artist Jeff Johnson cites Celtic spirituality as one of the greatest influences on his music, because of its deep connection to the natural world.

— Forrest Inslee [17]

Other Collaborations

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Throughout his career, Johnson has collaborated with various artists and musicians. In 1991, he played with Derri Daugherty (The Choir); jazz players David Friesen and Dave Hagelganz; and rock drummer Mark Schulman.

In 2002, he contributed an original tune with Brian Dunning on the Gangs of New York (soundtrack), alongside artists such as Peter Gabriel.

In 2009, he contributed the track "Heaven's Door" for Eckhart Tolle's Music to Quiet the Mind. He appeared with Keaggy on the instrumental albums Frio Suite (2009), and Water Sky (2012) - chosen for the 25 Essential Echoes CDs: The Best of 2012.

Johnson's recordings have been licensed and featured on numerous commercials, compilations, spoken word and movie soundtracks including the Martin Scorsese film, "Gangs of New York," Ruth Bell Graham's "A Quiet Knowing," the Hearts of Space "Celtic Twilight" and Windham Hill "Winter Solstice" and "Celtic Christmas" series, Eckhart Tolle's "Music to Quiet the Mind," Angela Elwell Hunt's "The Tale of Three Trees," Keith Patman's "Centerpoint: Poetry & Music for Christmas and Scott Cairn's "Parable".

Johnson produced an album of original music for Mercedes-Benz, titled Rhythms of the Road. The company included a CD with every new car sold. In an interview with The High Calling, Johnson said he was contacted by a car owner who totaled her Mercedes, with the CD stuck in the player. 'She was more upset about losing her CD than losing her car,' he said. Johnson sent her another copy."[15]

Ark Records

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Ark Records publishes Johnson's albums and those of a few musical associates.

Jeff Johnson produced music since his early teens, and started Ark Records in "a small studio in our house with a friend back in 1977"[18] (Tigard, Oregon). Learning the recording process in a pre-PC age helped him hone his skills. "Back then, it was all tape-based and the curve was high in learning how to record, edit and mix music."[19] Ark Records has produced and distributed more than 50 albums.

Around 1998, Johnson moved Ark Records to the San Juan Islands in Washington State.

Discography (partial)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fridays with Friends: Jeff Johnson and his breezy muse". March 2013.
  2. ^ "Fridays with Friends: Jeff Johnson and his breezy muse". March 2013.
  3. ^ "Jeff Johnson". Discogs.
  4. ^ a b "Music, Celtic: Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning".
  5. ^ "Celtic Voices: Interview with musician Jeff Johnson". 2 October 2012.
  6. ^ "Home". selahservice.com.
  7. ^ "Jeff Johnson and Sandy Simpson - Through the Door - 1982 Full Album (HQ)". YouTube.
  8. ^ "Jeff Johnson and Sandy Simpson - Through the Door - 1982 Full Album (HQ)". YouTube.
  9. ^ "Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning – Eirlandia". 2018-05-10. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
  10. ^ "Echoes March 2021 CD of the Month: Johnson & Keaggy". 27 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Echoes March 2021 CD of the Month: Johnson & Keaggy". 27 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Echoes Sept CD of the Month: Jeff Johnson & Phil Keaggy". September 2024.
  13. ^ https://allninemuses.wordpress.com/2024/02/04/the-art-of-composition/
  14. ^ "Page 2 of Jeff Johnson: A mysterious intellectual doing intelligent pop - Jeff Johnson". Crossrhythms.co.uk. 1991-06-01. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  15. ^ a b "Creativity for the Rest of Us: A Conversation with Jeff Johnson | the High Calling". Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
  16. ^ "Jeff Johnson & Phil Keaggy – WaterSky – Down The Line Reviews". Downthelinezine.com. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  17. ^ "God is All Around Us: Celtic Sensibility in the Music of Jeff Johnson". 10 March 2022.
  18. ^ "CD/DVD Reviews". Mwe3.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  19. ^ "Eirlandia | Jeff Johnson". arkmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-18.
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