Jazz Articles about Ellen Johnson

Luiz Millan: Brazilian Match

by Chris M. Slawecki
September 20, 2023

Brazilian Match is a tour-de-force of classic and contemporary Brazilian music written by and featuring singer-songwriter Luiz Millan. Millan's fifth album is a leader is his first for Jazz Station Records and Brazilian jazz impresario Arnaldo DeSouteiro, whose storied history includes working with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Eumir Deodato, Dom Um Romão, João Donato, and other legends, and who called Millan “a composer's composer." “A great melodist who also happens to be a great poet, a fabulous storyteller; a ...

Ellen Johnson Live At Enzo's Jazz, NYC

by Michael P. Gladstone
December 4, 2007

Ellen Johnson Enzo's Jazz, Jolly Hotel Madison Towers New York, New York October 19, 2007

Jazz singer/songwriter Ellen Johnson made a rare night club appearance in Manhattan coinciding with the release of her album These Days. Johnson is a transplanted Chicagoan who had lived in the San Diego area until 1999 when she relocated to the Los Angeles area. While in San Diego, the talented and versatile vocalist worked as a musician and educator, ...

Ellen Johnson: These Days

by Ernest Barteldes
October 10, 2007

Chicago-raised vocalist and educator Ellen Johnson emerges with a disc that explores her vast range and improvisational technique without attempting to sound pretentious, an all-too-common trait among jazz vocalists. This is evident throughout These Days, but most specifically on bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz' bossa nova-tinged “Inspiration, a wordless tune which features Brazilian percussionist Ana Gazzola on shakers and guitarist Larry Koonse; Johnson sings the melody with incredible softness, going even softer during the guitarist's accomplished solo for a unique backdrop.

Ellen Johnson: These Days

by Michael P. Gladstone
October 7, 2006

Despite a terrific press reception to her work, jazz singer Ellen Johnson unfortunately is not the household word she should be. She has previously recorded two albums, Too Good To Title (1993) and Chinchilla Serenade (1997); These Days is her third.

Ellen Johnson, originally a Chicagoan, now lives and works in San Diego as an musician and educator. She teaches as part of the voice faculties of the University of San Diego and the Old Globe Theatre. Since ...