Born: April 5, 1959 Primary Instrument: Drums
”...a wonderfully creative and fluid percussionist who weaves an often understated but complex web of textures...” - ALL ABOUT JAZZ
One of the primary voices in Northwest Jazz for 30 years, drummer John Bishop has performed in concerts and clubs with Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, George Cables, Kenny Werner, Sonny Fortune, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Tom Harrell, Herb Ellis, Buddy DeFranco, Larry Coryell, Joanne Brackeen, Jon Faddis, Charles McPherson, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Kenny Rankin, Joe Locke, Hal Galper, Jessica Williams, and countless others. Along with numerous jingle, film-score, demo & multi-media recording sessions, he’s appeared on more than 90 albums including sessions involving Rudy Van Gelder & Teo Macero, and a Grammy-nominated recording on RCA with singer Mark Murphy. Bishop was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008.
Presently, Bishop records and tours with the Hal Galper Trio, and the cooperative bands – “Scenes” with John Stowell & Jeff Johnson, and “Wellstone Conspiracy” with Brent Jensen, Bill Anschell, & Jeff Johnson.
Besides his jazz work, Bishop has toured nationally and internationally with Buddy Greco, the McGuire Sisters, and the Harry James Orchestra, and has performed with Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Bob Newhart, Rich Little, The Hi-Los, Frankie Avalon, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Platters, Pete Barbutti, the Seattle Symphony and many others.
In 1997, Bishop started Origin Records (named Jazzweek’s 2009 “Label Of The Year”) and OriginArts, a graphic design & CD production company, to help further the exposure of creative artists and their music. In partnership with his ex-drum student, Matt Jorgensen, they have released over 365 recordings by 240 artists. In 2002 they added another jazz label, OA2 Records, a classical imprint, Origin Classical in 2008, and in 2003 began Seattle’s annual Ballard Jazz Festival. He has designed 400 CD packages and multiple book covers, banners, posters, and other graphics for clients around the globe.
“Bishop’s drumming is unfailingly imaginative and fervid.” - CODA MAGAZINE
Awards:
Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, 2008JazzWeek "Label of the Year," 2009
“On this adventurous, open-ended trio outing, the Seattle-based drummer and founder of Origin Records forges an extraordinary, freewheeling chemistry with kindred spirits Jeff Johnson on bass and Rick Mandyck on alto sax. A ubiquitous figure on the northwest jazz scene, Bishop's first recording under his own name runs the gamut of dynamics from a spacious, hymnlike cover of Curtis Lundy's “Orange Blossom,” underscored by Bishop's ultrasensitive brushwork, to an off-kilter funk number, Johnson's “Hurt Brothers,” fueled by the drummer's insistent, slamming backbeats.” -BILL MILKOWSKI (JazzTimes Review of “Nothing if Not Something”)
Chad McCullough
Origin Records
2009
Of Things Not Seen
Jeff Baker
OA2 Records
2009
Shade
Richard Cole
Origin Records
2008
One More Mile
Brent Jensen
Origin Records
2008
The Cool Season
Marriott/Anschell/Johnson/Bishop
Origin Records
2007
Furious Rubato
Hal Galper/Jeff Johnson/John Bishop
Origin Records
2007
Both Sides of the Fence
Thomas Marriott
Origin Records
2007
Shopping For Your Heart
Jeff Baker
OA2 Records
2007
More to the Ear than Meets the Eye
Bill Anschell
Origin Records
2006
Along the Way
Scenes: Stowell/Johnson/Bishop
Origin Records
2006
Nothing If Not Something
John Bishop
Origin Records
2006
Trios
Brent Jensen
Origin Records
2006
Triskaidekaphobia
Ben Thomas
Origin Records
2005
Individuation
Thomas Marriott
Origin Records
2005
Monologue
Jeff Baker
OA2 Records
2005
My Many Moods
Amy Stephens
OA2 Records
2005
Hope Is In The Air: The Music of Elmo Hope
New Stories
Origin Records
2004
Mallet Jazz
Tom Collier
Origin Records
2004
Modern Jazz: A Collection of Seattle's Finest Jazz
Various Artists
Origin Records
2004
Portal
Deardorf/Peterson Group
Origin Records
2004
Art of the Groove
Brent Jensen/Rob Walker & New Stories
Origin Records
2004
In A Sense
Daughters of Joy
SB Productions
2004
Where Do You Start?
Don Lanphere
Origin Records
2002
Winter: An Origin Records Holiday Collection
Teuber/Peterson/Johnson/Bishop
Origin Records
2002
Yasukuni Terashima presents "Jazz Bar 2002"
Various Artists
DIW Records (Tokyo)
2002
"The Heart of Coree - in Cool Jazz"
Various Artists
Synnara Music (Korea)
2002
The Story of You
Dave Irish
DIM, Inc.
2002
Christmas in the Northwest, Vol. 5
Various Artists
Friendly Voice
2002
Home At Last
Don Lanphere & New Stories
Origin Records
2001
Still Life
Lynn Bush w/ New Stories
Origin Records
2001
Scenes
Bishop/Johnson/Mandyck/Stowell
Origin Records
2001
Ways of the Hand
Marius Nordal
Origin Records
2001
Remembered Faces, Private Places
Ben Black
Origin Records
2001
The Mystagogue
Ben Thomas
Origin Records
2000
The Piano: A Collection of Seattle’s Finest Jazz
Various Artists
Origin Records
2000
Repertoire: A Collection of Unforgettable Piano Jazz
Various Artists
Universal Music Group
2000
Speakin’ Out
New Stories w/ Ernie Watts
Origin Records
1999
Souvenirs
Michael Gray/Pearl Django
Modern Hot Records
1999
Simply Jazz
Wendy Schumacher
Foot Print Records
1999
Love You Madly
Margo Murphy
Rainmakers Records
1999
Get Happy
Don Lanphere/Pete Christlieb
Origin Records
1998
Twisted Christmas
Twisted Tunes
Atlantic Records
1998
Notoriety
Marius Nordal
Origin Records
1998
Reminiscing Harry, vol. 2
Fred Radke
Lancelot Records
1998
Compositions Coast to Coast
Chuck Bergeron
A Records
1998
Then
Jay Mabin
Double Identity Records
1998
Reminiscing Harry, vol. 1
Fred Radke
Lancelot Records
1997
Spinning World
Gunnar Madsen
G-Spot Records
1997
In a Mellow Tone
Ben Black
Cha Records
1997
Song for the Geese
Mark Murphy
RCA/BMG
1997
Don Still Loves Midge
Don Lanphere
Hep Records
1997
Remember Why
New Stories
Origin Records
1997
Now...Here...This
Denny/Mandyck/Johnson/Bishop
Origin Records
1997
Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit: Live at the Old Town
Bishop/Mandyck/Johnson/Teuber
Origin Records
1997
A Glance Back
Richard Cole
Origin Records
1997
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Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
Seattle, WA
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
