DER US-AMERIKANISCHE TUBA-SPIELER UND SAXOFONIST HOWARD JOHNSON IST GESTORBEN

Der am 7. August 1941 in Montgomery (Alabama) geborene US-amerikanische Jazz-Musiker Howard Johnson (Bild) ist am 11. Januar 2021 in New York City gestorben. Er war vor allem als Tuba-Spieler und Baritonsaxofonist berühmt, spielte aber auch Bassklarinette, Trompete und viele andere Instrumente. Johnson war Mitglied von Formationen von George Gruntz, Hank Crawford oder Gil Evans und arbeitete u.a. mit Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Hank Mobley und Quincy Jones zusammen. Er spielte aber auch mit The Band in «The Last Waltz», mit Taj Mahal, James Taylor, Paul Simon und mit Levon Helm's Band.

Foto: Manfred Werner (Tsui), 2013 (Ausschnitt), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tsui – Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en – Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mansur_Scott_Harlem_Quartet_feat_Howard_Johnson_-_INNtöne_Jazzfestival_2013_25.jpg

Howard Johnson, 79, Dies; Elevated the Tuba in Jazz and Beyond

He helped to find a new role for a notoriously cumbersome instrument in a wide range of musical settings, including the «Saturday Night Live» band.

Giovanni Russonello

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/arts/music/howard-johnson-dead.html

Jazz was not Howard Johnson’s only style. He played with The Band on «The Last Waltz,» with blues man Taj Mahal on «The Real Thing» and with the first «Saturday Night Live» band. He even accompanied James Taylor on «Sesame Street.»

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/956145720/tuba-virtuoso-howard-johnson-dies-at-79?t=1610762504716

Tuba virtuoso Howard Johnson, an in-demand sideman known for performing with Taj Mahal and dozens of other high-profile musicians as well as for his work on «Saturday Night Live,» died at his New York home on Jan. 11. The multi-instrumentalist, who could also play the baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flugelhorn, electric bass and pennywhistle, was 79.

Jim Harrington

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/11/snl-alum-taj-mahal-sideman-howard-johnson-dies-at-79/

Another giant of the music world has left the stage

Much has been written about Howard Johnson ’s prodigious talent – his arranging skills, musical innovations on tuba and baritone sax, and his open-hearted willingness to enhance all kinds of musical styles, from blues (Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters) to roots rock (the Band, Levon Helm, James Taylor) to his first love, jazz (Mingus, Miles, Jack DeJohnette and too many more to list). He was generous to everyone with whom he played – even to me on the lucky occasions I got to be in his musical presence.

Happy Traum

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10218336146255575&set=a.1064172845107

Audio / Videos:

Liner Note Legends #5: Howard Johnson [HD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heh3YsqF0cQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2ngDraT3rA32S2oOErzLlNAshT-7FPgkJtne1jNHbO0cwtoJ2dc8FyEdQ

Howard Johnson & Gravity – Stolen Moments (Gravity!!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJOJ2hjObo

Rag Mama Rag ~ Brian Mitchell and Howard Johnson join The Last Waltz at Lincoln Center 08-06-16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9t_BHPaddI

TAJ MAHAL & HOWARD JOHNSON: «Cake Walk In Town/She Caught The Ketty ». Live 1988, «NIGHT MUSIC #29»

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvrPT68PfjE

Tuba Anyone