As a virtuoso bassist, versatile composer, and acclaimed bandleader, Marc Johnson has been a major innovator on the jazz scene for the past two decades. Born in Nebraska in 1953, Johnson took up bass at the age of 16, having already studied piano and cello. While completing his formal education in the celebrated music program at the University of Fort Texas, at age 19, Johnson began performing professionally with "Fort Worth Symphony". In 1977 he was on the road with "Woody Herman Band".In 1978, he joined Evans' trio, remaining with him until the pianist's death two years later. Johnson appears on half a dozen albums recorded with Evans, including the Grammy a - winning "We Will Meet Again".Referring to his collaboration with Evans, Johnson says "I was a very young player when I was with Bill, but playing with him night after night I matured a lot.

My confidence grew, my ability to concentration heightened, my sense of timing improved, and my knowledge of harmony expanded."Over the past twenty years, Johnson has performed on more than 100 albums. Many have been with pianists, including Eliane Elias, Lyle Mays, and Enrico Pieranunzi, although Johnson has also recorded with saxophonists Stan Getz, Joe Lovano, and Michael Brecker, drummers Peter Erskine and Paul Motian, vidist Gary Burton, and bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi. Many of his most notable recordings have been with guitarists. As Johnson states "Writing for a two guitar format brings together my earlier musical influences, my musical 'first loves'." In addition to his long membership in guitarist John Ambercrombie's trio, Johnson formed two guitar-oriented bands that rose to prominence in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Bass Desires, with guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield, recorded two albums for "ECM" - a self-titled debut in 1986 and "Second Sight" in 1987. His "Verve" recording, "The Sound of Summer Running", further illuminates the multifaceted nature of Johnson's genius, as he leads, writes for, and performs in all - star quartet with guitarists Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, and drummer Joey Baron. On the album, his sixth recording as a leader, Johnson returned to the two-guitarist alignment inaugurated in "Bass Desires". "I wanted to continue that idea" Johnson explains. "Bill Frisell and I had played together, but neither of us had played with Pat Metheny, so this was a first. Joey Baron was a likely choice as the drummer because of his long association with Frisell and he's one of my favorite musicians." Johnson is a complete musician whose boundless creativity shines in the vanguard of today's jazz musicians. Mark Johnson performed on the album "Ampel'a" (LM018-2) by the Armenian group "Nor Dar" and the world famous Indian singer Lakshmi Shankar, which was published on 2000 by "LIBRA MUSIC".