Blog for Howard Johnson Jazz Tuba, Baritone Sax Musician

A Resume 75 Years in the Making Part 5 (October & November)

4/27/2017

This is the fifth collection of Elzy Kolb's many posts celebrating my 75th birthday of last year (2016). She challenged herself to name a different member of my "resume" each day leading up to my birthday. Every name mentioned in this list (and parts 1-4) is someone I have played with.

This part five is Elzy's posts through October and November. Highlighted in blue are some of my comments to the various stories or people mentioned. I encourage you to explore any of the names you haven't heard of and share the favorites that you know! Comment below! And, as always, a huge, huge thanks to Elzy for her time and effort on this little project of hers. I enjoyed checking each day to see which names she'd mention next.

Enjoy,
~H

October 1 · Happy Oct. 1 b'day to bassist Dave Holland. He and Howard played together on Carla Bley's "Tropic Appetites" album.
October 2 · As part of the ongoing Howard Johnson 75th birthday year celebration, I want to mention that he played with bassist Jaco Pastorius and Word of Mouth.

October 3 · Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree celebrated a birthday Sept. 25. He and HoJo have played together over the years, including celebrating the music of Billy Strayhorn.

October 4 · While I was prepping my post mentioning that singer Leon Thomas appeared on Pharoah Sanders' album "Izipho Zam" with a band of luminaries including Howard Johnson, I discovered that Leon was born October 4, 1937. What a lovely coincidence!

October 5 · Today marks the anniversary of the birth of trumpeter Bill Dixon. If you're guessing that Howard played with him, you're right. Howard plays baritone and tuba on the "Bill Dixon 7-tette" recording.

October 6 · Howard Johnson and the great saxophonist Joe Henderson played together in the George Gruntz band.

October 7 · Pianist Junior Mance has a birthday coming up next week, October 10. Get prepared to celebrate it by watching this video with Junior, as well as Howard.

October 8 · Early birthday greetings to pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, born Oct. 9, 1934. HoJo is part of Ibrahim's band Ekaya on the album "African River," along with saxophonist John Stubblefield and others.

October 9 · Today marks the anniversary of the birth of John Lennon. I mentioned a while back that Howard Johnson played with Lennon on the "Walls and Bridges" album. They also appeared together on the Yoko Ono album "Walking on Thin Ice."

October 10 · During their tenure with the George Gruntz Concert Jazz band, Howard and Sheila Jordan shared time on the stage and in the studio. Last time Howard was at my house, he enjoyed checking out "Jazz Child," Ellen Johnson's bio of Sheila.

October 11 · Today is the anniversary of the birth of drummer Billy Higgins. Howard and Billy played together on Hank Mobley's album "A Slice of the Top."

October 12 · Howard has often worked with drummer Newman Taylor Baker.

October 13 · Today is Pharoah Sanders' b'day! I know I mentioned before that Howard Johnson played with Pharoah, but he also recorded an excellent album paying tribute to the great saxophonist, "Arrival." Bassist/vocalist Sabine Worthmann is part of Howard's band Nubia.

Howard points out that he and Pharoah came to New York at about the same time, 1962-63. "We were the young cats on the scene," he says.

October 14· Getting in just under the wire for today's daily HoJo 75th birthday year post ... Happy belated birthday to saxophonist Lee Konitz, born Oct. 13, 1927, and still playing beautifully. Howard and Lee played together for at least three tours with the George Gruntz Concert Big Band, but they go back further than that. According to Howard, the two met in the '60s and have mostly stayed in touch since then.

October 15 · A lot of talented people were born Oct. 13, including Paul Simon, who was mentioned in a previous post. Bassist Ray Brown was also born Oct. 13, 1926. He and Howard did some West Coast studio work together, and also were in the Gil Evans band together in 1966. Howard recalls, "Gil's rhythm section was Ray Brown and Elvin Jones--that has to be the only time they played together!"

October 16 · Happy Oct. 16 birthday to trombonist Ray Anderson. He and Howard played together in the George Gruntz Concert Big Band.

October 17 · Guitarist Sonny Sharrock--and Howard--are part of the great band on Pharoah Sanders' "Izipho Zam" album.

October 18 · Howard Johnson toured and recorded with the George Gruntz Concert Big Band for a loooonnnggg time, along with scores of great players, including trumpeter Tanya Darby. Check 'em out on the recording "News Reel Matters."

October 19 · Here's a new one to me, HoJo played with Tim Postgate's Hornband, on "Banjo Hockey."

October 20 · Happy b'day to Lina Allemano! She's on the Tim Postgate "Banjo Hockey" album, along with Howard.

October 21 · Happy birthday to guitar ace Steve Cropper. He and Howard were part of Levon Helm's RCO All Stars. As was so often the case when Steve Cropper played, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn was on the gig too.

Check it out.

It's been a while since I've posted a roundup of some of the people Howard Johnson's played with in 50+ years in music. I've been mentioning names and sharing stories daily since February, and here are just a few of the musicians who have been mentioned: Kenwood Dennard, Jerry Gonzalez, Ray Chew, Bill Watrous, Kenny Barron, Charnett Moffett, Shelly Manne, Bernard Purdy, Marcus Miller, Jaki Byard, Tom Malone, Chuck Rainey, Billy Drummond, John Hiseman, Lalo Schifrin, Ray Mantilla, Milt Hinton, George Gruntz, Joe Chambers, Reggie Workman, Elmo Hope, John Lee, Julian Priester, Stanley Clarke, Don Pullen, Frank Perowsky, Ron Carter, Dannie Richmond, Scott Neumann, Arthur Blythe, Dave Sanborn, Josephine Baker, Mel Lewis, Geoff Muldaur, Warren Smith, Billy Cobham, Hank Crawford, John Hall, Cecil McBee, Eddie Bert, Geri Allen, Steven Bernstein, Steve Cropper, Clark Gayton, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Pinetop Perkins, Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell, Velvet Brown, Marvin Gaye, Tessa Souter. Bob Stewart, Eli Yamin, David Bargeron, Marcus Rojas, Russell D. Vines, Tom Varner, Cameron Brown, Jack Walrath, Jane Bunnett, Earl McIntyre.

October 22 · Oct. 22 is the birthday of saxophonist/flutist Jane Bunnett, who has a long history of collaborating with Howard, including on the album "Radio Guantanamo." The band includes Kevin Breit on guitar.

October 23 · Howard played with drummer Paul Motian, including on Carla Bley's album "Tropic Appetites."

October 25 · Today, Oct. 25, is the birthday of trombonist Robin Eubanks, who appeared on Abdullah Ibrahim's "African River" album with HoJo. Happy 75th birthday year, Howard!

October 26 · Happy Oct. 26 b'day to trumpeter Eddie Henderson, who appeared on J.J. Johnson's album "The Brass Orchestra," as did Howard Johnson.

October 27 · Eddie Bert is among the many fine trombonists that Howard has played with in his half century in music.

October 29 · Speaking of trombonists, Howard appeared on Rafi Malkiel's "My Island" recording.
Howard and saxophonist JD Parran have also shared stage and studio.

October 30 · Howard played with pianist Ronnie Matthews in the T.S. Monk band and elsewhere.

October 31 · I can't believe I've been doing daily posts about Howard Johnson since February and haven't mentioned saxophonist Erica Lindsay until now! The two go way back, long-time collaborators.

November 1 · Happy November 1 birthday to trombonist Conrad Herwig! Yep, he's played with Howard, in the Charles Tolliver band and elsewhere.

November 2 · Trumpeter Thad Jones is among the great bandleaders Johnson had gigged and recorded with.

November 3 · Drummer Rob Garcia and multi-instrumentalist HoJo have played together.

November 4 · Drummer Bruce Cox and Howard have played together.

November 5 · Throughout his career, bassist Steve Swallow has played with many of the greats, including Howard Johnson during the Jazz Composers Orchestra era. Through Sunday, Steve is with the Liberation Music Orchestra at Jazz Standard, celebrating the release of "Time/Life." Carla Bley told me earlier this year that Charlie Haden had personally chosen Steve to take over bass duties with the band.

November 6 · The Liberation Music Orchestra wraps up its run at Jazz Standard tonight, and French horn maven Vincent Chancey will be on the bandstand, along with Carla Bley and a host of greats.
If you're guessing Vincent and Howard have played together, you're right.

November 7 at 7:22pm · Howard Johnson played on Muhal Richard Abrams' "Blues Forever" album. That's one of those recordings with so many good players it will yield posts for days, including French horn player Vincent Chancey, mentioned here yesterday.

November 8 at 11:08pm · Happy b'day to clarinetist Don Byron. I do believe he and HoJo have played together.

November 9 at 8:28pm · Today, Nov. 9, is the birthday of flutist Hubert Laws. Howard appears on his "Romeo & Juliet" album.

November 10 at 4:11pm · Happy birthday to trumpeter Stanton Davis. He seemed to be on just about every gig I went to when I first moved to New York, including George Gruntz, Gil Evans, Sam Rivers and many others. Howard was on a lot of those gigs, too, and he and Stanton Davis performed with George Russell on the "Living Time" album.

November 11 at 11:34am · Today's gonna be a tuba two-fer: Bass clef maven Jack Jeffers appears at Zinc Bar tonight, Nov. 11. If you're guessing that he knows and has shared numerous bandstands and recording sessions with Howard, you would be right, going back beyond the "Escalator Over the Hill" days.

And for the second half of today's tuba two-fer, Nov. 11 is the birthday of trumpeter Hannibal Marvin Peterson, a Gil Evans band alumnus. Check out his work on "There Comes a Time," there's always something new to hear. Howard Johnson is in the band, as are Joseph Daley, Bob Stewart, Lew Soloff, John Clark, Tom Malone, David Sanborn, Warren Smith, George Adams, and others who have been mentioned here as part of the ongoing Howard Johnson 75th birthday year celebration. Herb Bushler's bass line is killin'!

November 12 at 7:05pm · If you hurry up, you can catch vocalist Lilli Phillips tonight at Miss Lucy's Cafe. Howard played on Lil's very fine album "Pull Out Those Dreams."·

November 12 is the anniversary of the birth of saxophonist Charlie Mariano. Howard Johnson and Charlie both appeared on George Gruntz's "Theatre" album.

November 13 at 7:15pm · November 10 was drummer Andrew Cyrille's birthday. Belated best wishes to the Liberation Music Orchestra and Jazz Composers Orchestra alumnus. Howard was in both bands at the same time.

November 14 at 5:19pm · Happy birthday to pianist George Cables! He and HoJo go way back--George was in Howard's first tuba ensemble in 1968. The two also played together in the Charles Tolliver band.
Also, happy b'day to bassist Kim Clarke! She and multi-instrumentalist Howard have played together in the George Gruntz band, including on the recording "Sins'n'Wins'n'Funs."

November 15 at 9:23pm · Nov. 15 is the anniversary of the birth multi-instrumentalist Jerome Richardson. After hearing Johnson play with Charles Mingus, Jerome asked for his phone number and called him for a lot of record gigs. He remained supportive of Howard for the rest of his life.

The two multi-instrumentalists appeared together on Teri Thornton's album "I'll Be Easy to Find," among other projects.

November 17 at 10:18am · Happy 81st birthday to trombonist Roswell Rudd, born Nov. 17, 1935.
Howard and Roswell Rudd have played and recorded together on albums including Archie Sheep's "Mama Too Tight" and the Jazz Composers Orchestra's "Numatik Swing Band."

November 18 at 10:53pm · Today's the anniversary of the birth of trumpeter Don Cherry, born Nov. 18, 1936. He and Howard Johnson both appeared on Charlie Haden's "Liberation Music Orchestra" album.

November 19 at 10:37pm · Howard and pianist Joanne Brackeen have played together numerous times when their paths crossed on the road or closer to home.

November 20 at 7:31pm · Howard and French horn player Julius Watkins played together with the Jazz Composers Orchestra.

November 21 at 10:27pm · Soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy was another Jazz Composers Orchestra alumnus, along with HoJo

November 22 at 11:16am · Today is the anniversary of the birth of trombonist Jimmy Knepper, born Nov. 22, 1927. He and Howard Johnson played together with the Jazz Composers Orchestra. They're both Mingus alumni and both worked with George Gruntz, I bet their paths crossed in those bands and in numerous others.

November 23 at 4:26pm · Happy birthday to bassist Ray Drummond. He and Howard Johnson played together in a tribute to Pepper Adams at the Detroit Jazz Fest a couple of years back. And elsewhere, I'm sure.

November 25 at 12:23am · Keyboardist Richard Tee was born Nov. 24, 1943. He and Howard played together with Lou Rawls, Paul Simon and others.

Today is the anniversary of the birth of trumpeter/composer Nat Adderley, born Nov. 25, 1931. Howard was still in the Navy the first time he met Nat in the early '60s during his first visit to New York. Howard told me about it in the late '90s when we did a lengthy interview for program notes I wrote for a brass conference scholarship offered in his name.

Howard was wandering around Midtown when he realized there were recording studios in the neighborhood. He thought he might glimpse one of his favorite musicians. His patience was rewarded when he spotted Nat Adderley. He approached Adderley and began praising him enthusiastically. "I didn't impress him too much," Howard recalls. Adderley was puzzled by one thing: Thinking Howard was too young to be in the service, he asked, "Why are you dressed like that?"

November 26 at 9:47pm · Howard played with drummer Louie Bellson on his big band album.

November 27 at 9:22pm · Happy birthday to trumpeter Randy Brecker, born Nov. 27, 1945. He and Howard played together with Louie Bellson and his big band, also with Gil Evans and the Jazz Composers Orchestra.

November 28 at 3:17pm · Happy birthday to bandleader Paul Shaffer. He and Howard Johnson go way back to the 1970s and the early era of Saturday Night Live. Paul had some lovely things to say about Howard in his book "We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives," and he also played on the first Gravity album.

November 29 at 9:08pm · Happy birthday to drummer Billy Hart. He and HoJo both appear on the Pharoah Sanders album "Izipho Zam."

November 30 at 6:12pm · Yesterday, Nov. 29, was the birthday of drummer Adam Nussbaum. As alumni of the Gil Evans band, Adam and Howard Johnson shared many a bandstand and many a recording studio.

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A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 4 (August & September)

4/12/2017

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Welcome to the fourth installment of Elzy Kolb’s posts celebrating my 75th birthday from last year. Months before (and months after) my birthday, Elzy challenged herself to try and list a name of someone I have played or gigged with every single day. Not only did she reach my birthday, without missing a day, but she kept at it and continued listing name after name. She went on to continue making posts for over a year!

I wanted to compile her efforts and share them with others who perhaps didn’t get a chance to see these Facebook posts. My hope is that they will encourage others to explore, share and experience musicians they haven’t heard before or haven’t picked up in awhile. Enjoy and another big thanks to Elzy for all her work on this project!

August 1 · Today, Aug. 1, is the birthday of Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. He and Howard were in the Gil Evans band together, but Howard recalls that Nana "didn't speak much English, so that limited conversation."

August 2 · Get ready to celebrate the birthday of saxophonist Greg Osby tomorrow, Aug. 3. Greg and Howard played together in Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, with John Purcell and Rufus Reid rounding out the personnel. Howard was in that band in a variety of configurations and remembers the edition with Greg as his favorite.

August 3 ·Aug. 3, marks the anniversary of the birth of tuba player Ray Draper. During one of our interviews, Howard Johnson reminisced about Ray, of whom he first became aware in the late 1950s:
"Initially, I wasn't very inspired by Ray because he was not really technically proficient at that time. As I got to be a more sophisticated listener, I realized Draper was a tremendously soulful cat who just wasn't that creative an instrumentalist. He was 16, 17, just a year older than me. So after I got over my initial mistrust of all the lack of technique, and also my envy -- he was doing exactly the gigs I wanted to be doing -- then I thought I'd like to seek him out and help him get his chops up to speed. Because he had soul pouring out of every part of him. I developed an appreciation for Ray after about 1962, which I just couldn't have before that."

August 4 · Today is the birthday of Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson. Howard Johnson recalls playing with him on Swedish TV in 1970 with Gil Evans and George Russell.

August 5 · Tomorrow, Aug. 6, is the anniversary of the birth of Buddy Collette. Before hitting his teens, the L.A.-born saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist formed a band with Charles Mingus (whom he persuaded to switch from cello to bass) and Britt Woodman. Collette went on to collaborate with Dexter Gordon, Lucky Thompson, Jim Hall and Chico Hamilton, and to teach Eric Dolphy, Frank Morgan, Charles Lloyd and a host of others. When the reed-man worked to integrate the Los Angeles musicians union in the 1950s, Frank Sinatra was among his supporters. Buddy Collette is said to be the first African-American musician to perform on TV, in the studio band of Grouch Marx’s “You Bet Your Life.”
Howard admired Collette’s multiple-reed work from the 1950s, and has fond memories of doing a lot of studio sessions with him. Shortly before his death in 2010, Collette came to hear Howard play at the Hollywood Bowl. When Howard announced from the stage that it was Buddy's birthday, the cameras picked him up for the Jumbotron display, and the elder statesman got a nice round of applause from the audience. “A wonderful, wonderful man,” Howard says.

August 6 · Happy birthday to Victor Goines. Howard Johnson describes Victor as "an exceptional multi-reed player, like Buddy Collette." Howard and Victor played together for the first time in New Orleans around 1985 or '86, and again in 2013 with the JALC program.
Happy birthday to Joseph Daley. When I interviewed him earlier this year, Joe told me he almost gave up playing tuba in 1970, but reconsidered after Howard talked to him about going on the road with Taj Mahal.
As Howard tells it, in 1970 he started talking with Taj Mahal about backing the singer with his multi-tuba group, now known as Gravity. Though Taj was enthusiastic, Howard never really believed anything would come of it. After six months of occasional discussions, Howard told him the band would only need two weeks rehearsal, at most. Taj responded, "Well, then we better start rehearsing Jan. 1, because we open at Fillmore East Jan. 15."
Howard began calling his tuba-playing colleagues to check on their availability. He began working on Joe Daley, who had sat in with the multi-tuba band recently. When Howard approached him about going on the road with Taj, Joe declined: He was in his last year of school and was about to become the first member of his family to graduate college. Daley explained, "I thought I could play till I came and played with you guys. Now I realize I can't play at all!" He had already found a buyer for his tuba.
Fortunately, Daley had a change of heart when he found out that he'd be able to make up classes he missed while he was on the road. He accepted the offer and told Howard he'd also double on valve trombone for the Taj Mahal gigs.
The rest is history, as evidenced by "The Real Thing," Taj Mahal's recording with its bounty of brass.

August 7 · Just getting in under the wire to wish Howard a happy birthday on the actual day. Since February I've been doing daily posts mentioning people he's played with in his 53-year music career, including: James Williams, Kenny Washington, Herbie Lovelle, Robbie Robertson, Ted Curson, Mousey Alexander, Tony Oxley, Marcus Belgrave, Lee Morgan, Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Andrew Hill, Frank Strozier, Cindy Blackman Santana, Tony Williams, John Clark, David Grusin, Joey Baron, George Russell, Doc Cheatham, Hall & Oates, Charles McPherson, Dizzy Gillespie, Winard Harper, Ed Xiques, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Rufus Reid, Paeeroan akLaff, and the NDR Big Band.

August 8 · Happy belated b'day, Kim Narisetti! Hope it was your best ever! (I didn't know you shared a birth date with my ol' pal Howard Johnson!) A lot of talented people were born Aug. 7, including trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. Not only do he and Howard share a birth date, they also played together.

August 9 · Happy birthday to drummer/pianist/composer Jack DeJohnette. Listening to his band Special Edition at the Blue Note many years ago convinced me I needed to live in New York. That version of Special Edition included Howard Johnson, David Murray, John Purcell and Rufus Reid. What's not to like? Plus, the recording includes a gorgeous arrangement of "Monk's Mood" by Howard.
Let me also mention that yesterday, Aug. 8, was the birthday of trombonist Urbie Green, who's appeared on about a bazillion gigs and recordings, including "Lady in Satin." And, yes, Urbie and Howard have played together.

August 10 · Today marks the birthday of bassist/composer/arranger Chuck Israels, who's played with Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, and Howard Johnson.

August 11 · Yesterday, August 10, was the birthday of trumpeter/composer Michael Mantler. Howard Johnson recorded with him on the Jazz Composers' Orchestra album.

August 12 · Earlier this week was the birthday of multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger Benny Carter. Another amazing multi-instrumentalist, Howard Johnson, played with him.

August 13 · Deep into the sixth month of daily posts in honor of Howard Johnson's 75th birthday celebration, and still plenty more names to come. Each day I cite someone Howard has played with during his 53 years in music, and today's choice is pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, aka Dollar Brand.

August 14 · Howard played with Hank Mobley on the classic album "A Slice of the Top."

August 15 · Howard Johnson played with pianist Cecil Taylor.

August 17 · Help Danny Mixon celebrate his birthday Friday, August 19. Danny, a Mingus band alumnus, has played with Howard Johnson, and has known him for a long time: "Howard has seen me grow up," Danny says. "I have the greatest respect for him and what he's done with the music."
Guitarist John Scofield is among the many greats Howard Johnson has played with.

August 18 · I've been wanting to mention for a while that Howard Johnson played with guitarist Hiram Bullock. Russell D. Vines and I heard them play "Voodoo Child" many times, much to our delight.

August 19 · Howard worked with drummer Beaver Harris, and played on his landmark album "From Ragtime to No Time."

August 20 · Howard played with guitarist George Benson, and appeared on the album "Benson Burner."

August 21 · Today, Aug. 21, is the birthday of pianist Carlton Holmes, a mainstay of Howard Johnson's multi-tuba band Gravity.

August 22 · Howard played with T.S. Monk, including on the brilliant release "Monk on Monk."

August 23 · Happy birthday to alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, born Aug. 22. Howard Johnson played with Bobby most recently at the University of Missouri in Kansas City; Howard says it's a "swinging' school."
That certainly wasn't the only time the two played together. Just one example: Back in the day Howard and Bobby both contributed to the Lou Rawls album "At Last." Guess name checking both Bobby Watson and Lou Rawls makes this post a Tuesday twofer.

August 24 · August 25th, tomorrow, is the birthday of guitarist Pat Martino. Pat and Howard Johnson were in Lloyd Price's band together in 1966.

August 25 · Today's the birthday of the legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter. He and Howard appear together on the T.S. Monk album "Monk On Monk."

August 26 · Lots of creative people born Aug. 25, including bassist Charles Fambrough. Howard Johnson took him on a quartet tour of Europe in 1975.

August 27 · Johnson worked with singer Maria Muldaur, including writing horn charts for her "Sweet Harmony" album, as well as playing tuba and bari on it.

August 28 · I met someone today who told me she listened to Taj Mahal's "The Real Thing" several times a day for years. I know the feeling!

August 29 · A half-century ago today, Aug. 29, the Beatles played their last U.S. concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Tickets cost $4.50 to $6.50, and the band played 11 songs ...
Which reminded me of a story Howard Johnson told me: Howard worked with John Lennon on his “Walls and Bridges” and “Double Fantasy” albums, and from the sound of it they would have enjoyed an extended, fruitful collaboration if Lennon’s time on Earth had been longer. While they were busy with “Double Fantasy,” Howard was also in rehearsals to go on the road with Paul Simon.
Lennon hadn’t toured in a long time, and had a lot of questions about what Simon would be doing. He was amazed to hear that a standard concert consisted of two one-hour sets. He said, “Really? We used to go out and do big stadiums and do one 40-minute set.”
Howard’s reply? “A 40-minute set? That shit went out with the Beatles!”

August 31 · Multi-instrumentalist George Braith is among the musicians Howard Johnson has played with in over a half century in music.

September 1 · Drummer Winard Harper is among the many greats Howard has worked with in his half-century-plus career in music.

September 2 · Today, September 2, marks the anniversary of the birth of saxophonist Clifford Jordan. He played with many of my faves, including Mingus, Mal Waldron, Randy Weston, and Howard Johnson.

September 3 · Saxophonist Mark Whitecage is among the musicians with whom Howard Johnson has shared a bandstand.

September 4 · Trumpeter Ted Daniel has played with Archie Shepp, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille. Sam Rivers, Billy Bang, Henry Threadgill, and Howard Johnson.

September 5 · Pianist Burton Greene has played with folks like Rashied Ali, Sam Rivers, Albert Ayler, Byard Lancaster, Gato Barbieri and Howard Johnson

September 6 · Pianist Jasper van't Hof has shared a bandstand with the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Charlie Mariano, Don Alias, Archie Shepp, Alphonse Mouzon, and Howard Johnson.

September 7 · Buddy Catlett played a lot of instruments, but may be best known as a bassist. He worked with Louis Armstrong, Cal Tjader, Curtis Fuller, Freddie Hubbard, Coleman Hawkins, Junior Mance, Chico Hamilton, Johnny Griffin and Eddie Lockjaw Davis. Oh, and Howard Johnson.

September 8 · While we're on the subject of bassists...Clint Houston played with Stan Getz, Joanne Brackeen, George Cables, Nina Simone, Roy Haynes, Charles Tolliver, Woody Shaw, John Hicks, John Stubblefield, and Howard Johnson.

September 9 · Just when you think you know just about everything there is to know about the roster of people Howard has gigged with, you discover he played with Sammy Cahn. Who knew?

September 10 · Yesterday, September 9, marked the anniversary of the birth of the iconic drummer Elvin Jones. Howard Johnson played with Elvin in 1966, when he joined Gil Evans' band. Howard told me a fun story about Elvin recently, which I'm going to paraphrase since I can't put my hand on the notes I made that day:
Elvin was visiting a friend who was prepping for a dinner party. She was upset because she had planned to make a special sauce--a version of home-made mayonnaise, if I recall--and she had broken the whisk she used for that task. Elvin asked her some questions about the procedure, then asked her to bring him a bowl, a fork, and the ingredients.
He sat in her kitchen hand-beating the ingredients together with a fork, keeping perfect time--of course!--for as long as it took for the delicate sauce to thicken to perfection.

September 11 · E.j. Decker, who produced the annual September Concert: The Heart of Jazz for 9/11, shared some memories a while back of Howard Johnson's participation in the event:
"It was 2011's 10th anniversary of the attacks when Howard joined the Sept. Concert: Heart of Jazz. He played in a combo that included Roseanna Vitro, Roni Ben-Hur and Harvie S Not-Harvey, in an 8-hour program that day that housed 50 musicians. Was a very long, but swinging, day. I remember Howard was a bit reticent at first that day (that new-kid-in-school feeling as this was our 7th edition), but once up there, he fit right in & blew it up!"
Thanks for the memories, E.j., and thanks for all your efforts in bringing people together.
September 12 · Happy belated birthday to saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins. In case you're wondering, Howard jammed with him back in the day.
September 13 · Pianist David Virelles has shared a stage, bandstand, or recording studio with Henry Threadgill, Jane Bunnett, Chris Potter, Mark Turner, Andrew Cyrille, and Howard Johnson.
September 14 · Howard and trumpeter Larry Cramer have played together many times, and I suspect they'll do it again on Sept. 16.
September 15 · Saxophonist Dewey Redman played with Ed Blackwell, Cameron Brown, Jane Bunnett, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Randy Weston, Roswell Rudd, Matthew Wilson and a host of others, including Howard Johnson.
September 16 · Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Sansone has played with John Lee Hooker, Jimmie Rodgers, Robert Lockwood, Ronnie Earl, Jane Bunnett, Howard Johnson and many others.
September 17 · Howard played with Gabor Szabo on the "Light My Fire" album.
September 18 · Johnson has played with guitarist Happy Traum at "the odd jam in Woodstock and at Winter Solstice concerts. He's such a great guy and a great father."
September 19 · Howard paid tribute to Don Pullen with Jane Bunnett's band on Friday, with bassist Kieran Overs, trumpeter Larry Cramer, pianist David Virelles, and drummer J.T. Lewis. Sounds like a good time was had by all!
September 20 · Baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne played with Illinois Jacquet, Tadd Dameron, Roy Eldridge, J.J. Johnson, Randy Weston, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, James Moody, and many others, including Howard Johnson.
September 21 · Bari saxophonist Nick Brignola played with Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland, Derek Smith, Ted Curson, Randy Brecker, Lee Morgan, and lots of others, including Howard Johnson.
September 22 · While we're on the subject of baritone sax players, Howard Johnson has played with Gary Smulyan, including at a milestone birthday celebration for Gary not too long ago.
September 23 · Ronnie Cuber has played bari sax with a host of greats, including George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, Lee Konitz, the Eagles, Horace Silver, Slide Hampton, Mario Bauza, and Howard Johnson.
September 24 ·Howard Johnson has played with saxophonist Paul Winter many times over the years.
September 25 · Happy birthday to saxophonist Craig Handy. He and Howard shared the stage and recording studio as part of the Charles Tolliver Big Band.
September 26 · Happy birthday to saxophonist Gary Bartz. He and Howard Johnson played the "Influences: Billy Strayhorn" concert at Weill Auditorium at Carnegie Hall a while back.
September 27 · Happy b'day to drummer Matthew Wilson. He and Howard Johnson are part of the Large Ensemble on Marty Ehrlich's "A Trumpet in the Morning" album.
September 28 · September 28 marks the birthdate of the bassist Sirone. I never think of him without recalling hearing him with Phalanx (George Adams, James Blood Ulmer, Rashied Ali), what a great night of music. Howard and Sirone appear together on Pharoah Sanders' album "Izipho Zam."
September 29 · Still catching up with the very talented people born Sept. 25 who have a musical history with Howard Johnson. Sam Rivers, for example. He's been mentioned here before, as part of the Howard Johnson 75th birthday year recognition posts. But this is the first time we're getting around to organist Barbara Dennerlein. Howard appears on her album "Junkanoo."
September 30 · A couple of weeks back, Diane Moser filled me in on some details about the upcoming Soup and Sound gig with Howard Johnson, Andrew Druryand Ken Filiano.
Diane said: "I was just talking to Howard about the music for our Oct. 1 Soup and Sound gig, and he wants to do some music by the pianist LaMont Johnson. Howard is on an album of his:” http://www.allmusic.com/album/242-e-3rd-mw0000044742
“I was researching LaMont while talking to Howard, and I saw that LaMont's date of birth was—guess what—Oct 1st, the day of our gig. Howard fell out laughin', he had no idea. So I said, ‘Well that's perfect, we have to do his music now’ "
Besides LaMont Johnson's “My Lonely Year” and “The Fire This Time,” the set list is likely to include Howard’s originals “Arrival” and “Little Black Lucille,” and a few of Erica Lindsey's tunes: “Walking Together,” “Varachka” and “First Movement.”

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A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 3 (June & July)

2/9/2017

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This is the third collection of Elzy Kolb’s posts celebrating my 75th birthday. She has been diligently rattling off names of people I have played and gigged with. She has hardly missed a beat, going all the way back to February. Elzy originally planned to stop at my birthday (way back in August), but she continued pulling names well past my birthday. She's still at it today and shows no signs of slowing down!

I hope that this list of her dedicated efforts will cause others to add their own stories. I encourage you to explore the musicians you haven’t heard before, listen again to the ones you have and share, share, share.

June 1 · Our Memorial Day bbq playlist included "I Feel So Good," from Eli Yamin's Blues Band, including Bob Stewart on tuba. Here's a twofer in my ongoing daily quest to name someone Howard Johnson has gigged or recorded with: Not only has Bob Stewart been a member of Howard's low-brass choir Gravity since the get-go, Howard has also played with pianist Eli Yamin.
June 2 · This week the focus is on members of his multi-tuba band Gravity! No roundup of Gravity! alumni is complete without charter member David Bargeron, who also recorded with folks like Blood, Sweat and Tears; Gil Evans, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Chaka Khan and scores of others.
June 3 · Drummer Kenwood Dennard has played drums with Howard Johnson's multi-tuba band Gravity!
June 4 · Marcus Rojas joins Bob Stewart and others tonight, June 4, in paying tribute to trumpeter/composer/arranger/band leader/visionary Lester Bowie at Tribeca Performing Arts Center on the BMCC campus.
Marcus Rojas is also among the alumni of Howard Johnson's multi-tuba ensemble Gravity!
June 5 · Today, June 5, is trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez's birthday. I know that because Howard Johnson pointed it out. And yes, they did play together.
June 6 · Pianist Ray Chew has been with the "Saturday Night Live" band, music director of "Dancing with the Stars" ... and part of Howard Johnson's multi-tuba band Gravity. Check out Ray playing on Gravity's "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying," with vocals by Taj Mahal.
June 7 · Bob Cranshaw has been Sonny Rollins' bass player of choice since 1959. He's also an alumnus of Howard Johnson's band Gravity! Check him out on everyone's fave, "Big Alice," written by the great Don Pullen.
June 8 · June 8 is the birthday of the great trombonist Bill Watrous, with whom Howard has often shared a stage.
June 9 · Happy birthday to pianist and NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron. Yep, it's true, he and Howard Johnson have gigged together.
June 10 · Bassist Charnett Moffett has a birthday today. He's another one of the impressive roster of great players with whom Howard Johnson has shared a bandstand.
June 11 · Happy b'day to legendary drummer Bernard Pretty Purdie, who's played with just about everyone (including HoJo).
June 12 · Besides Bernard Pretty Purdie, another legendary drummer was born on June 11--Shelly Manne. Howard shared a stage with each of them.
June 13 · It's the birthday of Russell D. Vines, composer, arranger, bassist, etc. Howard Johnson has soloed so gorgeously on baritone on Russ' "Last Exit." Can't wait to hear him do it again!
Howard and Russell have played together, but only for a lucky few.
June 14 · It's bassist Marcus Miller's birthday, June 14. He and multi-instrumentalist Howard Johnson go way back and have played together many times.
June 15 · June 15 is the anniversary of the birth of pianist Jaki Byard. He and Howard are both Mingus alumni, in fact, Byard brought HoJo to Mingus' attention. Howard told me about it during an interview in the late 1990s:
Howard was standing in the back of a club trying to be inconspicuous, which is rather difficult when you're holding a tuba. Mingus came out on the bandstand, clearly in a bad mood: "You could tell that from any part of the room." Howard exchanged waves with Jaki Byard, who pointed him out to Mingus, saying, "There's your tuba player, right over there." The source of Mingus' dark mood was learning that Red Callendar wasn't going to be able to make their gig the following week; Byard nominated Howard as his replacement.
"Mingus looked over and pulled the microphone up to his face. He always talked on-mike on the bandstand in those days. He felt that the title 'Jazz Workshop' gave him the option to rehearse stuff onstage, or stop and start again if it didn't sound right. He'd have people start over and most of the instructions he gave the musicians, he said on-mike," Howard recalls.
Mingus asked, "That kid there in the back? I can see he's got a tuba, but can he really play?" Howard says Byard didn't know his playing, but wanted to give him a break, so he replied that Howard was pretty good. Mingus asked, "Does he play behind the beat? Is he able to swing?" Jaki advised Mingus to ask Howard himself.
"Mingus just kind of stared at me for a while. I was feeling pretty uncomfortable. He finally blurted out, 'What tunes do you know?' He probably thought I knew two tunes. I guess he couldn't believe that I was ready to stand up and play with anybody. I didn't really understand his question, since I was so well-prepared, in regard to his expectations. I didn't need special dispensation from the pope to play jazz on the tuba."
"I said, 'What tunes do you want to hear?' The audience and band heard that as a challenge and went, 'Whoooooa!'" Mingus called Howard up to the bandstand, as the audience applauded him for what they saw as his underdog status. Mingus called up a blues, then "Cherokee," to test Howard's skills on an up-tempo tune. When he called "Stormy Weather," Howard noticed Byard rolling his eyes, and realized something was up. When the band finished with the ballad, Mingus told Howard that he could play an upcoming two-week Birdland gig with him, and to show up for rehearsal the next day. However, first he had to learn to play "Stormy Weather" correctly. Mingus pointed out, "The part that goes '...it's raining all the time...,' you have to do that twice. A lot of people do that wrong, they only do it once." Howard interpreted that as Mingus' way of telling him, "I win."
June 16 · Today is the birthday of Tom "Bones" Malone. He and Howard Johnson were on the "Saturday Night Live" band together, and Tom also played on Howard's multi-tuba band Gravity. Check it out!

June 17 · Ya gotta love Google... Today's the birthday of electric bassist Chuck Rainey. I know he and Howard Johnson played together, because Howard told me so. I googled the two of them in hopes of reminding myself exactly where their equally prolific careers crossed paths ... and according to the Web it was Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland A's games in the mid-1980s.
Let's have a Friday twofer ... June 17 is also the birthday of french horn player Tom Varner, and I know he and Howard were in the George Gruntz band together, probably at about the same time Howard and Chuck were burning up the baseball diamond.
June 18 · Drummer Billy Drummond celebrates his birthday June 19. Yes, he and HoJo have played together.
June 19 · Tomorrow, June 20, is the anniversary of the birth of Eric Dolphy. Among his many accomplishments is inspiring Howard Johnson to move to New York. Howard told me about it in an interview in the late 1990s.
Chicago was Howard's first post-Navy port of call, after leaving the service in the early 1960s. "I thought I'd go someplace where there was a scene and I could get a little experience before hitting the Big Apple. I wasn't doing any serious jazz playing before I was in the Navy and I developed a lot while I was there. But I hadn't had a chance to prove it to myself or anything. I had to kind of get a sense of what I could do. I figured two years in Chicago would do the trick." Once there, "I did a little sitting in. I didn't get much done. I may have done two actual paying gigs in the months I was there.”
"I got into this thing in a neighborhood recreation center, the music department was run by [Muhal] Richard Abrams, which later became the AACM. I used to go to all the jam nights and I learned a lot. It was pretty intriguing stuff."
Talking to Eric Dolphy changed Howard's mind about staying in Chicago. Howard introduced himself after hearing Dolphy play a gig with John Coltrane. "You know how you talk with musicians, you tell them about your aspirations and stuff like that. I told him I was going to probably move to New York in another year and a half or more. He was intrigued with the fact that I played tuba. I told him whatever I can play on baritone sax, I can play on tuba with about as much ease and in the same range, except the tuba goes a lot lower." Dolphy was impressed and encouraged Howard to reconsider his time frame.
Howard recalls Dolphy telling him: "I have no idea what that sounds like. But if you can do half of what you say you can do on tuba, I wouldn't wait any two years here. Nobody's doing that in New York. There's a guy or two who can play, but they're not jazz musicians."
That's all it took. "I started thinking, maybe I won't wait two years. Maybe I'll leave in six months. By the time I went to bed that night, I decided I was definitely leaving. I left five days later."
June 20 · Tomorrow, June 21, is the birthday of drummer John Hiseman. He's played with quite an assortment of bands and people, including -- of course! -- Howard Johnson.
June 21 · Happy 84th birthday to pianist/composer/arranger/conductor/etc. Lalo Schifrin. Yep, Howard Johnson has worked with him.
June 22 · Happy 82nd b'day to percussionist Ray Mantilla, who's shared a bandstand or a recording studio with Eartha Kitt, Max Roach, Herbie Mann, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Mingus, Don Pullen, Muhal, Dizzy, and so many others, including Howard.
June 23 · Bassist Milt Hinton was born 108 years ago today, June 23. I gotta pick up the phone and talk to Howard Johnson about the times they played together, 'cause they did.
June 24 · Keyboardist/composer/band leader George Gruntz was born June 24, 1932. Howard toured internationally with him and appeared on at least nine George Gruntz albums.
June 25 · Happy birthday to drummer Joe Chambers. Yep, he and Howard Johnson gigged together.
June 26 · Bassist Reggie Workman is 79 years old today, June 26. The Philadelphia-born bassist has left very few sonic stones unturned in his career, which includes stints with John Coltrane, Mal Waldron, Art Blakey, Oliver Lake, David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, Thelonious Monk and many others.
A couple of years back I caught the Charles Tolliver big band, which included Reggie Workman and Howard Johnson in the lineup. Great night of music!
June 27 · After completing four months of daily posts about people HoJo has played and recorded with, I continue to be surprised and delighted by new discoveries, such as finding out he played with pianist and composer Elmo Hope. Today, June 27, is the 93rd anniversary of Hope's birth.
June 28 · Bassist John Lee turns 64 today, June 28. He's played with a lot of my faves over the years, including blues vocalist/slide guitarist Ellen McIlwaine, multi-instrumentalist Howard Johnson, McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders and more.
June 29 · Happy 81st birthday to trombonist Julian Priester, who has played with a musical spectrum including Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Max Roach, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and so many others, such as Howard.
June 30 · Happy 65th birthday to bassist Stanley Clarke. The third bass player mentioned here this week with a Philly connection (John Lee and Reggie Workman are the other two), Clarke is known for his work with Return to Forever with Lenny White and Chick Corea, as well as playing with Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Pharaoh Sanders, Gil Evans and Stan Getz. And HoJo.
July 1 · Starting Feb. 28, I challenged myself to do a daily post name checking someone with whom Howard Johnson has gigged and/or recorded. The goal is to honor the great multi-instrumentalist during his 75th birthday year.
In case you haven't been with us from the start, here are some of the names you may have missed: Gil Evans (nothing like getting off to a strong start!), Charles Mingus, Carla Bley, Taj Mahal, Michele Rosewoman, JT Lewis, Vincent Herring, Charles Tolliver, Herb Bushler, Jimmy Heath, Carline Ray, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, James Taylor, Calaire Daaley (aka Claire Daly), Quincy Jones, Lisa Parrott, Francesca Tanksley, Lauren Sevian, Ray Charles, Randy Weston, Buddy Rich, Archie Shepp, Cynthia Scott, Andrew Hill, Diana Ross, Billy Harper, Saturday Night Live, Chad Moser, Diane Moser, Spinal Tap, Shunzo Ohno, Tom Harrell, and Marvin Gaye. Not bad, huh?!
While we're on the subject of bass players, besides being a mainstay of Ahmad Jamal's trio and backing singers including Nancy Wilson and Vanessa Rubin, James Cammack has recorded with Howard Johnson's band Gravity!
July 2 · The pianist James Williams was an alumnus of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and played with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer and Howard Johnson's Gravity.
July 3 · A couple of days ago, Claire Daly mentioned she now owns Howard Johnson's first baritone sax. During an interview in 2000, Howard told me how he came to own that horn in a kind of it-takes-a-village moment.
After years of playing school instruments, Howard finally got one of his own during his final year of high school. He had been to a Canton, Ohio, music store twice to check out a Selmer low-A baritone sax. On Dec. 26, 1957, he brought his mother to the store to take a look at it. The store owner, Charlie Gattuso, recognized Howard from his previous visits, and asked Mrs. Johnson if he could actually play the instrument. She said he could, but it wasn't something they could afford. At a time when the minimum wage was $1 an hour, its $850 price tag put it out of reach for most families.
Howard recalls Gattuso saying, "Listen, if the kid is interested in an instrument as obscure as this, he ought to be able to have it. Kids who have that much interest in music do not grow on trees." He proceeded to outline a no-interest payment plan of $33 monthly, with no money due till March. Howard quickly chimed in, pointing out that he'd be graduating that year, and reminding his mother that he could work for his uncle's construction company in Alabama, so he could take over the payments.
Once the deal was made, Howard asked if he should come back in March to pick up the horn. Gattuso told the surprised young man, "You can take it home today!" Fourty-three years later, Howard delivered the story's punch line with a delighted chuckle.
Drummer Kenny Washington has played with Betty Carter, Clark Terry, Tommy Flanagan, Lee Konitz and a host of jazz giants, including Gravity.
July 4 · Drummer Herbie Lovelle shared the stage with the likes of Herbie Mann, Art Farmer, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lightnin' Hopkins, Illinois Jacquet, Red Holloway, and Howard Johnson.
July 5 · Happy b'day to guitarist/composer Robbie Robertson, probably best known for his work with Bob Dylan and the Band. He also recorded with Ringo, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond and many others. He and Howard Johnson worked together in a variety of configurations, including with the Band and with Levon Helm's RCO All-Stars.
July 6 · Trumpeter Ted Curson played with Charles Mingus, Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill, Archie Shepp, and many others, including Howard.
July 7 · I was interested to learn Howard Johnson played with Mousey Alexander, especially since the only Mouse Alexander I'd heard of at that time was a very interesting -- and dangerous -- character in Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels. That's not the guy Howard gigged with!
Drummer Mousey Alexander replaced Gene Krupa in Benny Goodman's big band; he was a favorite of Buddy Rich and also gigged with Marian McPartland, Jimmy McPartland, Clark Terry, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, and many others.
July 8 · English drummer Tony Oxley has played with Joe Henderson, Lee Konitz, Charlie Mariano, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and Bill Evans, as well as Georgie Fame, John Surman, Lester Bowie, Enrico Rava, Kenny Wheeler, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Paul Bley, and many others, including Howard Johnson.
July 9 · Clifford Brown mentored trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, who went on to play with Mingus, Dolphy, Ray Charles, and many others, including HoJo. Belgrave shared his wealth of knowledge with Regina Carter, Robert Hurst, Kenny Garrett, Geri Allen, James Carter, and more.
July 10 · It's the anniversary of the birth of trumpeter Lee Morgan, known for his hit "The Sidewinder," among other things. Yep, he and Howard Johnson shared the stage and recording studio on more than one occasion.
July 11 · Count Chick Corea among the many NEA Jazz Masters and all-around creative giants Howard Johnson has gigged and/or recorded with.
July 12 · NEA Jazz Master, MacArthur Foundation grant recipient, saxophonist, composer and innovator Anthony Braxton is among the many greats Howard has played with in his half century career.
July 13 · Speaking of NEA Jazz Masters, Howard Johnson has played with an amazing number of them, including pianist/composer Andrew Hill. Howard is on the "Passing Ships" album, which many listeners cite among their all-time faves.
July 14 · Howard always speaks highly of saxophonist Frank Strozier. Besides sharing the bandstand with Howard, the Memphis-born Strozier played with Harold Mabern, George Coleman, Roy Haynes, Miles Davis, Booker Little, Hank Mobley and others.
July 15 · Drummer Cindy Blackman Santana had some good words to share about Howard Johnson today. The two have played together, and Cindy says, "I love him! He's a great musician and one of the sweetest people I've met in NYC!"
July 16 · As promised, today's Howard Johnson birthday post is about Cindy Blackman Santana's inspiration and mentor drummer Tony Williams. In an interview from the late 1990s, Howard told me a couple of stories about Tony. In the first, he describes how they met, while Howard was still in the Navy:
For three years, Howard was assigned to a Boston-based aircraft carrier. While in town, he contacted a friend of his mother's who had moved from Massillon (Ohio) to Boston. She asked Howard if he was still interested in jazz and offered to introduce him to her roommate's son, who was a jazz musician.
"My first day in Boston, I met Tony Williams. He was only 14 and he was the best drummer in Boston. It was my 18th birthday when I got there, and this little cat was so cool. I had to envy his coolness right away. He was much cooler than me, at 18."
Later, when Howard arrived in New York in mid-February 1963, literally the first thing he did was call his friend Tony Williams. "I had taken an overnight bus and called him way too early in the morning and woke up his roommate, Nat Jones. It was 8:30 or 9--too late for musicians, too early for musicians." When Tony came to the phone, he insisted that he and Howard meet immediately, regardless of the time. He had big news to share: The following week he was opening at the Village Vanguard with Miles Davis. Tony hadn't said a word to anyone because "I don't want any shit getting back to Miles, because that would be the end," Howard recalls him saying. Howard told Tony he'd keep the news to himself, but he was planning to be in the front row at the Vanguard all week. "We're out on Great Jones Street. It's cold and it's raining, we're jumping up and down and holding each other, jumping up and down. A couple of kids, right? Tony had just had his 17th birthday."
July 17 · Howard and french horn player John Clark were both regulars in Gil Evans' Monday Night Orchestra at Sweet Basil in the 1980s.
July 18 · Howard Johnson has played with 10-time Grammy winner Dave Grusin
July 19 · HoJo also played with trombone titan Grachan Moncur III.
July 20 · Joey Baron was guitarist Jim Hall's drummer of choice for a long time. And, he and Howard Johnson also played together.
July 21 · Howard Johnson played with many of the most imposing figures in 20th century music, including composer/arranger George Russell. I gotta talk to Howard and get more details, that's a combination to reckon with.
July 22 · It's always fun to be reminded of what a broad slice of jazz history Howard Johnson has experienced through his playing. For example, he played with trumpeter Doc Cheatham. Born in 1905, Doc heard King Oliver live, then followed him around to immerse himself in his sound and style; King gave him a mute which he used for the rest of his life. Doc went on to play with Ma Rainey, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway and other acclaimed bands between the two world wars.
Afterward, Doc was a member of numerous Latin bands, including Perez Prado, Ricardo Rey and Machito. After a (very!) long and successful career playing in the ensembles of likely hundreds of major jazz and Latin figures, as an elder statesman Doc became a critical--and audience--favorite with his soloing and singing. He did his last gig two days before passing on at 92.
July 23 · Today's the birthday of guitarist/songwriter/former NY congressman John Hall. I've already mentioned here that Howard played with John Hall during their Taj Mahal days. But I've neglected to report that Howard and John played together in another setting--with John's musical partner Daryl Oates in their hit-making band Hall & Oates.
July 24 · Happy birthday to alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, born July 24, 1939. He and HoJo are both Charles Mingus alumni.
July 26 · Howard Johnson and drummer Winard Harper have shared the stage from time to time.
He has also played with alto saxophonist Ed Xiques. And he's likely to do that again tomorrow night, July 27, with Diane Moser's Composers Big Band at Trumpets in Montclair. The set list sounds great, including tunes like "Nica's Dream" and "Nedra," named for Howard's daughter, Nedra Johnson, who's celebrating a birthday this week.
July 28 · Just got back from hearing Howard Johnson with Diane Moser's Composers Big Band. Lovely night, great music, good vibes, full house. The audience included Rufus Reid, Calaire Daaley, Nedra Johnson, Pheeroan Aklaff, Russell D. Vines, and other musicians with whom Howard Johnson has played.
After all the great music from Diane Moser's Composers Big Band, there's no doubt who should be included in today's post: all the players on the bandstand last night celebrating Howard Johnson's upcoming 75th birthday. And in addition to Diane, that would include: Marty Fogel, Thomas Colao, Barbara Cifelli, Ed Xiques, Paul Ostermayer, Jim Cifelli, Mike Spengler, Chris Rogers, Rob Henke, Ben Williams, Erick Storckman, Matt Haviland, Dennis Argul, Larry Maltz, Andy Eulau, Gene Lewin, and guest composer Russell D. Vines. Thanks for a lovely and memorable night of music!
July 29 · Speaking of multi-instrumentalists...Howard Johnson played and recorded with Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In fact, they're both born on Aug. 7.
July 31 · Howard was a mainstay of Germany's NDR Big Band from 1991 to 1995. Has it really taken me this long to mention that Howard played with Dizzy Gillespie's big band?

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A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 2 (April & May)

1/7/2017

1 Comment

This is the second collection of Elzy Kolb’s posts celebrating my 75th birthday. She has been diligently rattling off names of people I have played and gigged with. She has never missed a beat, going all the way back to February. Elzy originally planned to stop at my birthday (way back in August), but she continues to pull names to this day. Please enjoy and give her the round of applause she deserves.

I hope that this list of her dedicated efforts will cause others to add their own stories. I encourage you to explore the musicians you haven’t heard before, listen again to the ones you have and share, share, share.

April 1 · Marvin Gaye would have turned 77 tomorrow, April 2. For many of us, his album "What's Going On" has been a fixture on our best-ever lists for decades. Unfortunately, it continues to be pertinent social commentary. Howard still seems a little surprised and awestruck that he was called to play with Marvin Gaye, a stand-out gig in an outstanding life in music.

April 2 · Howard Johnson introduced me to Tessa Souter's music early on in her career. When it comes to recommendations, as they say in "Blazing Saddles," "Howard Johnson is right!" Tessa Souter's birthday is April 3, and she'll be celebrating through the week with gigs at Cornelia Street Cafe.

April 3 · Since we're talking about Howard Johnson and movies, let me remind you that Howard toured internationally with Paul Simon and wrote the horn parts for "One Trick Pony," which eventually made it to the big screen (without Howard).

April 4 · Today is the birthdate of one of the greatest of the electric bluesmen: Muddy Waters. Howard Johnson certainly got his mojo workin' in Muddy Waters' band.

April 5 · Special thanks to Keith Walton for forwarding this link to Howard, who passed it on to me.

Howard's playing electric bass with the great Gato Barbieri in this video. The video is labeled 1973, but Howard says it's 1974. I'm sure Howard and many others are recalling Gato, who died Saturday at age 83. RIP to one of the greats.
Gato Barbieri in Rome, 1974 (despite what the video says), with Howard Johnson on electric bass and tuba.

A while back Howard told me about a breakthrough he had while playing with Gato, that changed his approach to rhythm. I'm kind of vague on the details, maybe Howard or Nedra Johnson can jump in with details.

OK. If I must confess. Those three drummers in Gato's band (Ray Armando.Ray Mantilla, and Portinho ) were really carrying me. I had horn player's time, just riding on them. One night at the Bottom Line in NYC ,I felt myself becoming a part of the rhythm section....Contributing. I turned around and saw all three drummers smiling and nodding their heads. I was so very busted.

April 6 · Howard Johnson had a long and interesting relationship touring and recording with Levon Helm, from Woodstock to the Delta to the Midnight Rambles, creating many happy memories for all concerned.

April 7 · Had a chance to talk with Howard Johnson just now about trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who would have been 78 years old today, April 7. When the two first met, Freddie explained that certain tunes were just too hard for a tuba, and seemed to think that Howard couldn't play, since he didn't know such a basic "fact."

April 8 · Since so far this week I've mentioned Levon Helm, Muddy Waters, and Howard Johnson's connection to certain movies, today seems like the day to reveal that Howard Johnson played with The Band, as documented in their film "The Last Waltz."

April 9 · If you saw the Chet Baker bio pic, one of your first thoughts was probably "Wonder if the great Howard Johnson ever played with this guy." And the answer, of course, would be yes!

April 10 · While we're on the topic of movies... hearing interesting things about "Miles Ahead." And yes, Howard Johnson did share the stage with the renowned trumpet player.

April 11 · A while back I mentioned that famous quote from "Blazing Saddles": "Howard Johnson is right!" That's certainly the case when he's singing the praises of other musicians, such as bassist Melissa Slocum, a mainstay with Howard's band the HoJo Five.

But don't just take Howard's word for it: Melissa has also played with Art Blakey, Leon Thomas, Hank Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Diva Jazz Orchestra, Frank Wess, Woody Shaw, Melba Liston, Charlie Persip and many others.

April 12 · Howard was in great form when we talked on the phone a few days back. He told me about the time he and Bob Stewart took their tubas up to Ungano's to jam with B.B. King. Just the presence of that much low brass was enough to cause a stir, and right before they went on, Jimi Hendrix arrived with a group of women. The audience was distracted, buzzing and cracking jokes, not knowing what to expect.

Howard and Bob took to the stage, one on either side of B.B., and showedeveryone they know their way around the blues. Though there were no mikes, they made themselves heard, with power to spare. Afterward, Jimi sought out Howard to say, "You brothers just did the god damnedest shit I ever heard! Ain't nobody laughin' now!"
Hendrix played baritone horn in school, and had been quoted as saying he only did it so he could get into football games for free. However, Hendrix told Howard that wasn't true -- he really liked playing the instrument, he confided.

The great Gil Evans had made plans to record with Hendrix and told Howard Johnson he wanted him in the studio, too. Unfortunately, Jimi didn't live long enough to make the gig. But Howard eventually got to have his say on one of Jimi's greatest tunes, "Voodoo Chile," and has also been known to play a lovely, tender version of "Little Wing," on pennywhistle.

April 13 · Mike Spengler mentioned Warren Smith (4/12 post), which brings to mind something else from my recent chat with Howard Johnson: The multi-tasking multi-instrumentalist confirmed that he played with the Fugs, a political/poetical band of 1960s boundary pushers.

Howard recalls that Warren Smith was brought onboard to write charts, hire some horns, "and just generally be the grown-up in the room." Howard was set to go on the road with the band, but the tour was canceled for fear that the Fugs might get arrested in the hinterlands for some of their lyrics.

What about rumors that Howard Johnson recorded with the Fugs? "Might have," he says.

April 14 · Vocalist Catherine Russell's jazz roots are generations deep: Her father, Luis Russell, was a pianist, bandleader, and musical director for Louis Armstrong. Catherine's mother was the legendary--and inspirational!--bassist, guitarist, and singer Carline Ray. Cat's grandfather, Elisha Ray, graduated from Juilliard and played low brass with jazz pioneer James Reese Europe. Howard Johnson has toured and recorded with Catherine.

April 15 · There's a new Liberation Music Orchestra recording coming out late spring/early summer. Looking forward to hearing it. In the meantime, I'll give a listen to the band's earlier albums, including the first one with Howard Johnson in the lineup.

April 16 · Saxophonist/flutist Carol Sudhalter is playing at Cleopatra's Needle tonight, April 16. Last week she sent me a very sweet story about Howard Johnson and the influence he has had on her life: "Howard Johnson was responsible for motivating me to come live in New York.

" I met Howard in 1972, when he was playing with Gil Evans. I went to a Gil Evans concert in Rotterdam, and saw on the program the name of my first boyfriend in life (when I was 13 and he was 17), trumpeter Stan Shafran. I went streaking backstage as I'd lost track of Stan over the years. He was sitting with Howard, and casually turned to him and said, "This is the girl I was telling you about, that we went necking in our teen years in the car and got stuck in the mud!" What an introduction! We three hung out. I went back to Boston and soon afterward, Howard showed up at my parents' house and sat down at the piano, determined to show me that I had a talent for improvising and that I should really be in New York (me on flute). Sometimes I think Howard is an angel sent to us all.

"That opened my mind to the idea. I started playing sax a few years later, and joined a Latin band called Imperio Latino. One night Larry Harlow's band was playing opposite us. He liked me and offered me the tenor sax chair that Jeannie Fineberg had just left, in his wife's all-women band, Latin Fever. I rushed to New York, auditioned, got in, and moved down immediately. And never regretted it!" --Carol Sudhalter

April 17 · Continuing the movie theme...Howard Johnson played on several Spike Lee movie soundtracks, including "Malcolm X," "Clockers" and "Mo' Better Blues."

April 18 · Today's installment of the Howard Johnson 75th birthday tribute...Howard often speaks fondly--and respectfully--of working with saxophonist/composer/arranger Oliver Nelson.

April 19 · Howard Johnson played on the legendary Gary Burton album "A Genuine Tong Funeral."

April 20 · Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Howard Johnson has some gigs with Carly Simon in his deep past.

April 21 · Howard has performed and recorded with well over a dozen NEA Jazz Masters, including trombonist J.J. Johnson, with whom he recorded "The Brass Orchestra."

April 22 · And speaking of great bass clef players named Johnson... I've seen/heard Howard onstage with Aaron J. Johnson many times.

April 23 · In case I haven't mentioned enough talented people named Johnson in the past few days, check out multi-instrumentalist/composer/singer Nedra Johnson. Can't think of too many people who have the power to make themselves heard with this many tubas, and when she's not singing, Nedra's playing one herself with Howard Johnson and Gravity. Hard to say who's prouder of the other--the father or the daughter.

April 24 · Happy belated b'day to Erik Lawrence. He and Howard Johnson were longtime bandmates for Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles.

April 25 · 99 years ago today the great Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Va. In 1966, Howard backed her up on baritone on a gig at the Riverboat In New York. I'm sure a good time was had by all.

April 26 · Yesterday, April 25, marked the 93rd anniversary of the birth of the great bluesman Albert King. Besides being among my all-time fave guitarists, he had that remarkable suede-like voice. Like B.B. King (no relation), Albert was born in Indianola, Mississippi.

Howard Johnson played with Albert--electric bass, I believe. Howard also played with B.B., as documented here a few weeks back. Wonder if he ever played with Freddie King, the third great blues guitar slinger to share that last name.

April 27 · No list of Howard Johnson's adventures in music is complete without mentioning that he appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with his multi-tuba band, Gravity!

April 28 · Tomorrow, April 29, marks the anniversary of the birth of tenor saxophonist George Adams. He and Howard were part of the Gil Evans extravaganza that took place every Monday night at Sweet Basil back in the day.
George was very proud of sharing a birthday with a very significant jazz figure, but you'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out who that is (and whether it's someone Howard played with).

April 29 · Howard Johnson has played with a slew of impressive, talented and renowned musicians. (And the Fugs.) But he sounds especially proud and excited when he talks about getting the call to sub for baritone saxophonist Harry Carney in Duke Ellington's Orchestra.

Duke Ellington was born April 29, 1899. Besides being a great composer, pianist and the definition of suave elegance, the legendary bandleader was also quite adept at dispensing compliments with the utmost sincerity.

April 30 · Howard Johnson worked with saxophonist David Fathead Newman.

May 1 · Hard to believe a quarter century has gone by since the great pianist and composer Don Pullen passed. I'm sure a month never goes by without me listening to some of the wonderful music he left with us. Howard Johnson and Don Pullen each spent time playing with Charles Mingus, and shared the bandstand with other greats. They also shared some traditions and humor from their Southern childhoods. Any day you listen to either/both is bound to be a good day.

May 2 · Clarinetist Frank Perowsky and Howard have played together for years in ensembles great and small.

May 3 · Bassist Ron Carter turns 79 years old on May 4, and Howard has shared the stage with the iconic bassman over the years.

May 4 · While we're on the subject of drummers, Howard Johnson had a long association with Dannie Richmond, Mingus' drummer of choice. Howard has high praise for Dannie's chops and versatility, as well as his of-the-moment fashion sense.

May 5 · Happy birthday to trumpeter Jack Walrath! Howard Johnson says he did gigs with Jack "now and again...But the best for me was when I was in the NDR Big Band in Hamburg. Jack brought in great charts of his tunes, and played great too."

May 6 · Since I mentioned all the other members of the George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet in posts in the past week, it's only fair to point out that Howard Johnson also played with the great bassist Cameron Brown, who rounded out that illustrious foursome.

May 7 · Today, May 7, is the birthday of one of the most distinctive alto saxophone players of all time, Arthur Blythe. Way before they were on the Gil Evans band together, Arthur and Howard (among others) shared a house in L.A. Howard recalls hearing footsteps passing his room every morning, followed by a burst of music--Arthur warming up. "That was my wakeup call," Howard says.

May 8 · Howard Johnson played with alto saxophonist Dave Sanborn, check them out on this Gil Evans track, the first alto solo is by Dave.

May 9 · This one was a surprise for me: Howard was in the band of the truly legendary singer/dancer/actress Josephine Baker. Though a few years (ok, decades) have passed, Howard still remembers her costume and feathered headdress in detail.

May 10 · Today is the anniversary of the birth of the great drummer/composer/arranger/band leader Mel Lewis. And yes, Howard Johnson did play with him.

May 11 · Jane Bunnett mentioned the other day that Howard Johnson did a great version of Don Pullen's "Big Alice"... which reminded me of the mashup Geoff Muldaur did of "Chevrolet" and "Big Alice" on his album "The Secret Handshake." According to the liner notes: "So, one day I'm telling Howard Johnson that I have a great idea for a jazz-style hambone piece--a bebop hambone--but Howard breaks the news that my great idea had already been done. Charles Mingus' piano player Don Pullen had written one called 'Big Alice.' "

So here's Muldaur's "effort to unsettle folk audiences," featuring Muldaur on penny whistle and you know who on tuba.

May 12 · Howard Johnson has often toured and recorded with Jane Bunnett. I especially like this piece that not only features a tuba solo, but also some verbal background commentary from Howard.

May 13 · May 13 marks the 104th anniversary of the birth of composer/arranger/pianist Gil Evans. Howard Johnson ranks Gil Evans alongside Charles Mingus as "the other person who really stretched me beyond my own concept. I've gotten some things from Gil that I didn't even know were doable."

In an interview we did in the '90s, Howard told me Gil had asked him to play "a light sound that really projects," while working on "Falling Water," during a 1968 Miles Davis/Gil Evans session.

Howard continued, "There was one part that was very difficult for me, and I had to play it with Ron Carter, who was playing with a bow. When my phrasing or my pitch or something wasn't with him, he'd shoot me a look. That was kind of daunting, you know. On about the sixth take, I was concentrating on the phrasing, the notes, the pitch. I knew this wasn't going to be the final take, so I kind of played it in a way that would just guarantee that I got everything right at least, then I could maybe interpret later.

"When I heard the playback on that, the way I fit with Ron was so beautiful, in a way that I wasn't even going for, and it was clear and astonishing to me."

Gil told Howard that was the light sound he was looking for.

According to the liner notes for "Miles Davis/Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings," there was a killin' band on hand for the session, including Wayne Shorter on tenor sax.

May 14 · Today is percussionist Warren Smith's birthday, May 14. He's among the percussionists on Gil Evans' "There Comes a Time," which I've listened to about four times in the past two days. HoJo's on the gig, of course, along with an amazing lineup of others.

May 15 · Drummer Billy Cobham's birthday is tomorrow, May 16. Check out this great version of "Stone Free," featuring Billy, plus lots of closeups of Howard Johnson.

May 16 · Today, I want to remind you that Howard played with the great saxophonist Hank Crawford.

May 17 · Happy b'day, Taj Mahal! I mentioned Taj Mahal a couple of months back when I started this daily endeavor, so how 'bout if I mention someone else who played on the great album, "The Real Thing," so many great names to choose from ... how about the guitarist John Hall, who was also a member of Orleans (and a NY congressman).

May 18 · Bassist Cecil McBee's birthday is tomorrow, May 19. I'm pretty sure I've seen him and Howard on the same bandstand more than once.

May 19 · Howard Johnson has some good stories about being on the road with the trombonist Eddie Bert, who would have been 94 years old on May 16. Lots of talented people were born on that day, including Billy Cobham, and the amazing Betty Carter.

May 20 · Geri Allen, David Murray and Terri Lyne Carrington play Birdland through Sunday. Howard Johnson knows all three, of course, and played with two of them: He and David Murray were together in Jack DeJohnette's band Special Edition, including the great "Album Album." Howard Johnson and Geri Allen played "Big Alice" together at Don Pullen's memorial.

As far as Terri Lyne Carrington, "I didn't know about her until she was 10 or so," Howard says. They've never played together, "But that would be great, I'd love it," he adds. Somebody, please let Terri Lyne know!

May 21 · In case you haven't guessed, Howard played with the great drummer Jack DeJohnette.

May 22 · This Thursday, May 26, marks the anniversary of the birth of Levon Helm. Howard Johnson performed with Levon many times over the years, so this week I'm going to focus on some of the other people who were in Levon's various bands at the same time as Howard. For example, slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, who told me last fall that every time he was on a gig with Howard it felt like a master class.

May 23 · Howard and guitarist Steve Cropper were both in Levon Helm's band, the RCO All-Stars. Steve was a member of Booker T. and the MGs, which was the Stax label's house band, backing up people like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Albert King and many others.

May 24 · It's Tuba Tuesday. Howard Johnson and Clark Gayton are among the low brass players on Levon Helm's "Electric Dirt." They played together at many a Midnight Ramble, in Woodstock and on the road.

May 25 · Donald Fagen, perhaps best known as the cofounder of Steely Dan, guested with Levon Helm while Howard Johnson was in the band. A good time was had by all!

May 26 · Today, May 26, marks the anniversary of the birth of Levon Helm, a real icon of American music. Celebrate this day -- and treat yourself -- by listening to some of the great music he created, from the Band to the Midnight Rambles, with some interesting sonic side trips in between.

May 27 · Here's a Grammy-winning Muddy Waters album recorded in Woodstock in 1975, with Levon on drums and Howard on a variety of instruments, with a knockout band that included Pinetop Perkins on piano.

Erik Lawrence points out that bassist Harvey Brooks was stuck in a snowstorm on the way to the gig, so Howard played the bass part on tuba on the first song, "Why Are People Like That."

May 28 · It not possible to recognize all the great people Howard Johnson and Levon Helm played with over the years--though all of you are invited to pitch in to try! But the week can't go by without mentioning Amy Helm, Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell. (I had a twofer last week, and now a three-fer!)

May 29 · Howard chose Earl McIntyre for today's post, after spending the afternoon listening to Earl's CD "Brass Carnival & Tribute." Earl played with Howard's multi-tuba band for the first time when he was 17, but they met about five years earlier.

"Earl was only about 12 and he was playing bass trombone," Howard recalls. "He was so young, I wasn't sure he could reach seventh position."

May 30 · Howard came over for a Memorial Day bbq, and I had such fun putting together a set of Gravity alumni to listen to. Besides Earl McIntyre's "Brass Carnival & Tribute," Hazmat Modine's new one, "Extra-Deluxe-Supreme," featuring Joseph Daley on tuba, was in the rotation. Sounded great!

May 31 · Looks like alumni of Howard Johnson's multi-tuba band Gravity will be the focus this week. Velvet Brown is a Gravity mainstay, what an amazing player!

Stay Tuned for Part 3!

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A Resume 75 Years in the Making Part 5 (October & November)

A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 4 (August & September)

A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 3 (June & July)

A Resume 75 Years in the Making, Part 2 (April & May)

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