Updated: May 28, 2021
Born: April 5, 1959
“One can hear many influences in Bishop’s playing, including more than a touch of Elvin, but he is clearly an original voice…” - Percussive Note
As a drummer, educator, record label owner, graphic designer, publisher, and festival presenter, John Bishop has been one of the primary voices in Northwest Jazz for over 35 years. He has performed in concerts and clubs with Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, George Cables, Kenny Werner, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Fortune, Herb Ellis, Buddy DeFranco, Jack Sheldon, Jerry Bergonzi, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Larry Coryell, and countless others. He’s appeared on more than 100 albums, and was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 1997, Bishop started the jazz label Origin Records (named Jazzweek’s 2009 “Label Of The Year”) and OriginArts, a graphic design & CD production company, to help further the exposure of creative artists and their music. In partnership with his ex-drum student, Matt Jorgensen, they have released over 550 recordings by 300 artists from around the world. In 2002 they added another jazz label, OA2 Records, a classical imprint, Origin Classical in 2008, and in 2003 began Seattle’s annual 4-day Ballard Jazz Festival. Bishop has designed over 600 CD packages and multiple book covers, banners, posters, and other graphics for clients around the globe. He was on the PNW chapter Board of Governors of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and annually takes part in multiple music conferences & events, including MIDEM (Cannes), the Grammys, JazzConnect (NYC), JazzWeek (San Jose), NAMM, PASIC, and JazzAhead (Bremen).
Read moreTags
All About Jazz Articles
Album Review
- The Poets Are Gathering by Paul Rauch
- Trapeze by Paul Rauch
Profile
Album Review
- Speakin' Out by Edward Blanco
- Speakin' Out by Jack Bowers
- Across The Bridge by Dan Bilawsky
- Nothing if Not Something by Dan McClenaghan
- Scenes by Dave Nathan
- Scenes by Joseph Blake
- Speakin' Out by Jason West
December 20, 2021
Celebrating Origin Records at All About Jazz
April 05, 2014
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Bishop
April 05, 2013
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Bishop
April 05, 2012
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Bishop
April 05, 2011
Jazz Musician of the Day: John Bishop
February 23, 2010
Hal Galper, Jeff Johnson and John Bishop Play Birdland in NYC Tuesday...
On this adventurous, open-ended trio outing, the Seattle-based drummer and founder of Origin Records forges an extraordinary, freewheeling chemistry with kindred spirits Jeff Johnson on bass and Rick Mandyck on alto sax. A ubiquitous figure on the northwest jazz scene, Bishop's first recording under his own name runs the gamut of dynamics from a spacious, hymnlike cover of Curtis Lundy's Orange Blossom, underscored by Bishop's ultrasensitive brushwork, to an off-kilter funk number, Johnson's Hurt Brothers, fueled by the drummer's insistent, slamming backbeats. -BILL MILKOWSKI (JazzTimes Review of Nothing if Not Something)
“The New Stories trio is likewise nothing less than extraordinary
Primary Instrument
Drums
Location
Seattle
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Private teaching for 35 years. Former faculty at the University of Washington.
Lester Young
saxophoneBen Webster
saxophone, tenorMario Pavone
bassRobert Sabin
bassMark Colby
saxophoneKerry Politzer
pianoEric Bolvin
trumpetJavon Jackson
saxophoneThe Moutin Reunion Quartet
band/orchestraBilly Kilson
drumsPaul Bollenback
guitarTia Fuller
saxophoneVic Juris
guitarQuintin Gerard W.
saxophoneRale Micic
guitarRon Horton
trumpetArtists who share similar musical characteristics to John Bishop.