Marc Johnson, born October 21, 1953, is an American jazz musician, composer, and band leader. Johnson was born in Omaha in Nebraska in 1953 and grew up in Texas. Johnson was 19 when he began working as a professional musician with the Fort Worth Symphony. While at the University of North Texas, he also played in the One O’Clock Lab Band, and was the principal bassist of the NTSU Symphony. Johnson was joined by Bill Evans, the legendary pianist, in what would become Evans’ last trio. Johnson recorded and toured with Evans from 1978 until his death in 1980. Since then, his many recordings credits include discs with Joe Lovano and Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer. John Abercrombie. Bill Frisell. Enrico Pieranunzi. Joey Baron. Philly Joe Jones. Jack DeJohnette. Peter Erskine. Paul Motian. His own bands include Bass Desires, which featured John Scofield and Bill Frisell on electric guitars with Peter Erskine as drums. This group gained international recognition after two ECM recordings in mid-eighties. His own group, ‘Right Brain Patrol’ was recorded for JMT Records. The Sound of Summer Running album on Verve followed. Shades of Jade, his ECM release, was listed in Time’s October 17th 2005 issue “5 CDs That Really Swing” as one of five best jazz releases of the year. The Chicago Tribune selected it as one of the top 10 jazz recordings of 2005. It also won the Danish Music Award for Best Foreign Release 2005. His wife, composer and pianist Eliane Elias is featured on the recording, as well as Joe Lovano on tenor and John Scofield on guitars and Joey Baron drums. Marc Johnson is releasing a new recording featuring Joe Lovano, Joe Elias and Joey Baron in 2012. From Wikipedia
