LaMont Johnson (musician)

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LaMont Johnson (born October 1, 1941 in New York City , † October 21, 1999 ibid) was an American jazz pianist , keyboard player , composer and music producer .

Live and act

Johnson became known in the mid-1960s for his collaboration with Jackie McLean , on whose Blue Note albums Dr. Jackle (1966), New and Old Gospel (1967, with Ornette Coleman ) and Demon's Dance (1970) he performed. He also played with Kenny Burrell , Hank Mobley ( Reach Out , 1968), Paul Beaver and Bud Shank .

In 1966, LaMont Johnson and his brother Keith founded the Down Town Records label on the Lower East Side of New York in 1966 , where R&B and jazz recordings by local musicians were made. The label's premises were used by many jazz musicians from the nearby Slugs club in the East Village for demo recordings. In 1969 the label was discontinued.

From the 1970s onwards he presented a number of albums under his own name, mostly on the Orchard label . In 1972 he recorded the album Sun, Moon and Stars as a keyboardist , on which Sal Marquez and Charles Owens also participated and which ranged from post-bop to funk . He also wrote the music for the film How Come Nobody's On Our Side? and in 1972 produced an ambitious soul-funk album called Speed ​​Of Light , which he dedicated to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard . For his church he had already composed the music for a short film ( Freedom ) in 1970 , which was based on Hubbard's writings. He later distanced himself from the Scientology sect; allegedly his studio then fell victim to an act of revenge by the sect. Johnson's other work for film scores was the music for the kung fu film Thunderfist (with Ronnie Laws , Ndugu Chancler and Blue Mitchell, among others ) and music for television commercials.

The jazz musician should not be confused with the film director of the same name Lamont Johnson (1922-2010) and the Detroit R&B / funk musician of the same name.

Discographic notes

  • Nine: A Mystical Musical Allegory (Orchard, 1976)
  • Aces (Orchard, 1979)
  • New York Exile (Orchard, 1987)
  • Burned by the Passion (MasterScores, 1991)
  • 242 E 3rd (Orchard, 1998)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Birthdays October 1st at nfo.net
  2. ↑ a b Information at neverenoughrhodes
  3. ↑ Information on Sun, Moon, and Stars at ileoxumare
personal data
SURNAME Johnson, LaMont
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American musician
DATE OF BIRTH October 1, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH October 21, 1999
Place of death New York City