Todd Johnson is recognized as a pioneer of the six-string bass. With his signature model Zon TJ6 six-string bass, Johnson uses an innovative technique where he plays chord changes and bass lines simultaneously, giving him an uniquely rich and fuller sound that proves extremely useful in both solo and small combo work.
As an integral member of the critically acclaimed jazz trio of guitarist Ron Escheté, Johnson excels as both a supporting musician and a seasoned soloist. He is consistently cited for his contributions of skill, originality, and versatility, as well as his ability to sound as if he is simultaneously playing bass and rhythm guitar. Zan Stewart of the Los Angeles Times writes that Johnson's six-string bass along with Escheté's seven-string guitar "give the musicians an amazing range of sounds and approaches." The group is repeatedly hailed as the trio that sounds like a quartet.
In 2004, Johnson joined forces with acclaimed bassist and singer Kristin Korb to form The Kristin Korb/Todd Johnson Trio. Get Happy, their debut CD produced by Johnson, features Korb on vocals and upright bass, Kendall Kay on drums, and Johnson providing the chordal structure and solos on his 6-string electric bass.
In addition to his work with the Ron Escheté Trio and Kristin Korb, Johnson has performed and recorded with other artists including Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Scott Henderson, Barbara Morrison, Plas Johnson, Sam Most, Lew Tabackin, Jack Sheldon, Joe LaBarbera, Frank Potenza, Larry Koonse, Kendall Kay, Jennifer Barnes, Kate Reid, Tierney Sutton, Poncho Sanchez, Mundell Lowe, Paul Humphrey, and Frank Gambale.
As an integral member of the critically acclaimed jazz trio of guitarist Ron Escheté, Johnson excels as both a supporting musician and a seasoned soloist. He is consistently cited for his contributions of skill, originality, and versatility, as well as his ability to sound as if he is simultaneously playing bass and rhythm guitar. Zan Stewart of the Los Angeles Times writes that Johnson's six-string bass along with Escheté's seven-string guitar "give the musicians an amazing range of sounds and approaches." The group is repeatedly hailed as the trio that sounds like a quartet.
In 2004, Johnson joined forces with acclaimed bassist and singer Kristin Korb to form The Kristin Korb/Todd Johnson Trio. Get Happy, their debut CD produced by Johnson, features Korb on vocals and upright bass, Kendall Kay on drums, and Johnson providing the chordal structure and solos on his 6-string electric bass.
In addition to his work with the Ron Escheté Trio and Kristin Korb, Johnson has performed and recorded with other artists including Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Scott Henderson, Barbara Morrison, Plas Johnson, Sam Most, Lew Tabackin, Jack Sheldon, Joe LaBarbera, Frank Potenza, Larry Koonse, Kendall Kay, Jennifer Barnes, Kate Reid, Tierney Sutton, Poncho Sanchez, Mundell Lowe, Paul Humphrey, and Frank Gambale.
Technique Builders
Johnson shows you how to control the shape, attack, decay, and articulations of the notes you play in a logical, organized, and concise method in his latest instructional DVD series. In Technique Builders, Johnson demonstrates right and left hand ergonomics, right hand muting, supportive fingering, string skipping, floating thumb technique, shifting, hammer-ons and pull-offs, as well as how to play ghost notes on electric bass. This DVD is ideal for beginners who want to learn things right the first time and also for the self-taught bassist hoping to fix bad habits that have been unintentionally picked up over the years.
The Walking Bass Line Module System
In his brand new instructional DVD series, The Walking Bass Line Module System, Johnson takes the "mystery" out of learning to play walking bass lines by breaking techniques down into small, bite-size pieces that anyone can easily digest. In Volume 1, The Triad Module System, Johnson outlines the strong beat/weak beat theory, ear training (playing what you hear), blues changes, "Autumn Leaves" changes, major and minor triads, chromatic approaches from above and below, and helps you put together a solid, organized practice plan.
The Kristin Korb/Todd Johnson Trio - Get Happy
On their debut collaboration, highly esteemed acoustic upright bassist/vocalist Kristin Korb and 6-string electric bass pioneer Todd Johnson have released Get Happy, a trio recording comprised of twelve classic jazz standards and three original compositions. Along with drummer Kendall Kay, Korb sings and plays traditional jazz bass lines on acoustic upright while Johnson outlines the harmony with richly textured chord voicings on his Yamaha 6-string electric bass. Korb's bass lines bounce, her solos swing, and her voice sets the new standard amongst female jazz vocalists. Not to be outdone, Johnson's sophisticated chord melodies are unrivaled amongst his contemporaries. In past performances as an integral component of the critically acclaimed Ron Escheté Trio as well as a solo bassist, Johnson has demonstrated that his innovative bass playing style is anything but traditional. Here, Johnson continues with that forward-thinking approach. Throughout this recording, Johnson's guitar-like chordal accompaniment style is reminiscent to that of the legendary jazz guitarists including Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and Ron Escheté. Johnson's guitar-like performance is so convincing that as a listener, if you were not made aware that Johnson was not a jazz guitarist, you would never to able to decipher the difference. The production quality of this recording is superb. Even though this project features two musicians playing low frequency instruments, the sonic spectrum is never muddied and the distinct tonal characteristics of each instrument are never sacrificed. With all the underlying positive energy heard on this entertaining project, you simply can't listen to this recording and not get happy. A complete track listing includes: "I'm Old Fashioned", "Top Of The World", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "If You Never Fall In Love With Me", "Moon River", "Sunshine & Slim", "Cheek To Cheek", "Wonder Why", "Get Happy", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "Goin' Home", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Everything Happens To Me", "Blues For Hellen", and "When You're Smilin'." By combining one of today's premier jazz vocalists/upright players with an inventive virtuoso 6-string electric bassist, Kristin Korb and Todd Johnson have created one of the most truly unique recordings in contemporary jazz.
