Ellen Johnson

Ellen Johnson’s devotion to the jazz world spans more than 35 years as a professional jazz recording artist, educator, songwriter, lyricist, author, and publicist. Johnson has performed, recorded and studied with many exceptional musicians including; Charles McPherson, Louie Bellson, Bobby McFerrin, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Don Braden, Willie Pickens, Roy McCurdy, John Clayton and John Collins

Ellen Johnson’s devotion to the jazz world spans more than 35 years as a professional jazz recording artist, educator, songwriter, lyricist, author, and publicist. Johnson has performed, recorded and studied with many exceptional musicians including; Charles McPherson, Louie Bellson, Bobby McFerrin, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Don Braden, Willie Pickens, Roy McCurdy, John Clayton and John Collins. Johnson’s performances have been described as “superior jazz singing by an artist of the highest quality” by Jazz Journal International and her past recording project These Days, (that featured a duet with jazz icon Sheila Jordan), was called by All About Jazz, a “sophisticated and successful album that raises the standard of modern jazz singing by at least one notch.” Johnson recently completed the biography Jazz Child: Portrait of Sheila Jordan in September 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. She has published lyrics to both Sonny Rollins and Charles Mingus compositions along with other collaborations and compositions of her own. Her soon to be released fifth solo CD project, Form & formless, centers around free jazz improvisations and features guitarists John Stowell and Larry Koonse. Through her own company, Vocal Visions, Johnson promotes and produces jazz recordings and music instructional products including, The Warm Up CD, Vocal Builders and You Sing Jazz. Johnson holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University, BM in Vocal Performance from the American Conservatory of Music, and further studies at the University of Humanistic Studies, UCLA Extension courses in the Music Business Certificate Program. She has served on the voice faculties of the University of San Diego, Old Globe Theatre’s MFA program, California Polytechnic University Pomona, the Jazzschool at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley and has given master classes throughout the United States. For more information go to, ellenjohnson.net.

Gear

Neumann K105 microphone