AUTHOR | WRITER | POET | TEACHER | TRANSLATOR
Alphonso Johnson
Bass and Band Leader
Alphonso Johnson is an iconic musician from Philadelphia whose contributions with the electric bass set the landscape of music to come. As Weather Report's bassist, Johnson's warm tone and fluent chops contributed to the band’s initial breakout from avant-garde into funk fusion. His playing was featured on the Weather Report album “Mysterious Traveler,” on the songs “Cucumber Slumber,” and “Scarlet Woman.” Then he left the band to work with drummer Billy Cobham. He recorded three solo albums as a band-leader, for the Epic label, in a fusion-funk vein.
Alphonso played in Santana's band and toured with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist, James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes and, guitarist David Gilmore playing shows that stretched across Europe and Japan. Johnson performed with Jazz Is Dead until 2002, and appears on the albums Blue Light Rain, Laughing Water, and Great Sky River. Johnson has taught all over the world and in 2004 he was appointed associate professor of music at the University of Southern California, whose jazz faculty includes drummer Peter Erskine and keyboardist Alan Pasqua. Alphonso is also a devoted music educator.
Alphonso Johnson's Metaphors featuring Cecilia Martinez-Gil's Moisten Harmony performed by Divinity Roxx
Moisten Harmony
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Drums – David A. Contreas
Guitar – Michael O'Neil
Piano – Gary Fukushima
Speech [Poetry] – Divinity Roxx
Written-By, Lyrics By – Cecilia Martinez-Gil
Written-By, Music By – Alphonso Johnson
