Jeff Johnson

The truly great musicians are an eclectic blend of skillful dexterity, untamed imagination and passionate heart.  Jeff Johnson's wide variety of recorded work is a testimony to both his considerable skill and his boundless love.  He is a musician's musician, one who connects with a wide variety of people on a grand scale.  He is equally at home capturing the slightest nuance on the smallest of recording projects and on the giant sound-stage of an Oscar winning film.
 
Jeff was born in 1956 and began experimenting with making his own recordings at an early age. After graduating from Portland State University in 1978, he began devoting his attention to Ark Studios and established ArkMusic, which has been home to every Jeff Johnson project since 1977.
 
Jeff's collaborations with Irish flutist, Brian Dunning, are a delight to Contemporary Celtic music fans which includes the acclaimed Windham Hill release, The Music of Celtic Legends ' The Bard & The Warrior. Their song Vows, was featured in the sound-track of the Oscar Winning Martin Scorcese film, Gangs Of New York.  Like the duo's early Songs From Albion trilogy, its inspiration came from bestselling fantasy writer, Stephen Lawhead's Byzantium. This was followed by King Raven - Vols. 1-3, another Johnson/Dunning collaboration, inspired this time by Lawhead's retelling of the Robin Hood legend, the King Raven Trilogy.
 
Johnson and Dunning were joined by Belfast violinist, John Fitzpatrick, and Oregon Guitarist, Tim Ellis, on A Quiet Knowing - Canticles For The Heart. This unique project featured instrumental arrangements of the favorite hymns of Mrs. Billy Graham. A Quiet Knowing Christmas continued the series with instrumental renditions of twelve carols. Many of their arrangements have also been featured on seasonal compilations from Windham Hill Records. The trio was joined by Slovakian cellist, Jozef Lupt'k on Benediction, an inspiring tapestry of of Celtic sacred melodies with contemporary Taiz' choruses and original material.
 
A complete artist, Johnson's vocal recordings, such as Great Romantics, Pilgrimage and The Memory Tree are renowned for the depth and intelligence of their lyrics while his instrumental works like Born Of Water and Similitudes which feature notable jazz players bassist David Friesen and saxophonist David Hagelganz) have been praised by Contemporary instrumental, New Age and Jazz enthusiasts. Then there are Jeff's soundtracks for several children's recordings including the album, The Tale Of Three Trees, based on the best-selling children's book by Angela Hunt.
 
In 2009, Jeff released  Journey Prayers, a musical companion to the previously released Standing Still and the acclaimed Vespers - light into Light, which featured classical singer, Janet Chvatal.  These recordings weave together richly textured musical meditations of chant, songs, hymns and instrumental pieces derived from Jeff's emerging role as a worship leader leading the Selah service. The evocative A Thin Silence has Jeff primarily on piano with ambient textures. The Selah Audio Meditations series features twenty minute meditations of selected music from these CDs combined with Jeff's readings from Scripture and Celtic prayers.
 
This was followed by Antiphon.  The title is a Latin word for a psalm, chant or hymn responsively sung in worship.  The recording is a beauty-fully sublime mix of sacred, classical, ambient and Celtic inspired music performed by an inter-national ensemble featuring Jeff on keys & voice, Janet Marie Chvatal (voice), Brian Dunning (flute & pennywhistle), Wendy Goodwin (violin) and Marc Gremm (voice). The music includes a bonus track featuring tracks recorded live in Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.
 
WaterSky, Jeff's latest work is another masterful collaboration with Phil Keaggy.  The musical adventures by the keyboard/guitar duo is full of thoughtful melodies, rich textures and sublime segues, takes their listeners on eight new instrumental voyages akin to floating in a canoe through the awe-inspiring Frio river canyon.  With Johnson providing keys, percussion & vocals and Keaggy acoustic & electric guitars, cumbus & bass the album is a complete entwining of two men's musical visions and provides moments of true inspiration that neither man could have achieved without the other.
 
In addition to his many albums, Jeff has done commercial music work for clients such as Mercedes Benz, Nike and Speedo Swimwear. His music has been featured on best-selling sampler releases by Windham Hill (Celtic Christmas 1 - 6, A Winter Solstice - 25th Anniversary, Carols 2, Windham Hill Christmas, Adagio), Hearts Of Space (Celtic Twilight 1, 2, 3 & 5, Universe 5), and Meadowlark (No Shadow Of Turning). He has also produced a number of recordings by other artists including several by Jazz artist, David Friesen and Jeff's song, Heaven's Door from his solo CD, A Thin Silence was included on Eckhart Tolle's Music To Quiet The Mind CD compilation.
 
Jeff Johnson lives on Camano Island, Washington with his wife, Susie.  He is a man blessed not only with a formidable talent, but with a musical career that is as unique and far ranging as his many gifts.