Jazz Articles about Max Johnson

About Max Johnson

Extended Analysis

Bassist Max Johnson is one of the most prolific and versatile musician/composers in music today and likely on the verge of a major breakthrough. Barely past the year's mid-point Johnson has offered three fine releases with different groups and distinctly different styles. Recording with Kirk Knuffke on cornet on Johnson's namesake trio release The Invisible Trio (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2014) the approach was a broad mix of multi-layered structure and unfettered originality. Shortly afterward, Johnson released The Prisoner (NoBusiness ...

Album Review

Max Johnson: The Prisoner

Read "The Prisoner" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
June 2, 2014

NYC-based bassist Max Johnson already boasts an impressively strong discography, after just two entries: Quartet (Not Two, 2013) and Elevated Vegetation (FMR, 2012). With a new crew on board for The Prisoner, he tackles that hoary chestnut the concept album. Except of course that in the medium of jazz, this doesn't mean a string of banal lyrics squeezed into a narrative straitjacket, rather in this case a series of musical constructs inspired by the 1960s British TV series of the ...

Album Review

Max Johnson Quartet: The Prisoner

Read "The Prisoner" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
June 2, 2014

Double bassist Max Johnson's new suite The Prisoner is inspired by the futuristic British cult TV series from the end of the sixties by the same name. This series was a source of inspiration for many artists, among them The Clash, Iron Maiden, and avant-garde sound artist David Shea. New York-based Johnson assembled a quartet of like-minded improvisers--tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, viola player Mat Maneri, and drummer Tomas Fujiwara, all in powerful performances--for an updated sonic meditation on the themes ...

Album Review

Max Johnson Trio: The Invisible Trio

Read "The Invisible Trio" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
March 8, 2014

The sophomore release of New York-based Max Johnson Trio, after Elevated Vegetation (FMR 2012), finds this highly versatile acoustic trio focusing more on written compositions and less on free improvisation. The trio--Johnson on double bass, prolific Kirk Knuffke on cornet and Ziv Ravitz on the drums--enjoys stretching Johnson's compositions in surprising ways. Knuffke expands, disintegrates and re- structures Johnson's harmonic ideas in an expressive and imaginative manner, adapting himself to the shifting pulse of resourceful Ravitz ...

Album Review

Max Johnson Trio: The Invisible Trio

Read "The Invisible Trio" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
March 5, 2014

The musical lineage within the small circle of bassist Max Johnson's trio is unquestionably among the finest in cutting-edge jazz. The leader has played with bassist William Parker, alto legend Anthony Braxton, trombonist Steve Swell and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. In the case of Johnson's current trio, his drummer, Ziv Ravitz, is also a member of the Lee Konitz Quartet and has performed with Joe Lovano, Tomasz Stanko, Aaron Parks and many others. Kirk Knuffke ranks as an equal to Rob ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five with Max Johnson

by AAJ Staff
May 29, 2011

Meet Max Johnson:Max Johnson is a New York-born bassist, composer, and bandleader best known for his work in New York's free jazz and bluegrass scenes. He has played with numerous artists including Anthony Braxton, Candido Camero, Henry Grimes, Perry Robinson, Vernon Reid, William Parker, and countless others.Instrument(s):Bass.Teachers and/or influences?Henry Grimes, Jimmy Garrison, Mark Dresser, Mark Helias, Trevor Dunn, Reggie Workman, Anthony Braxton, Jimmy Giuffre./I knew I wanted to ...