M.A.M.I. "Featured Artist":
Marc D. Johnson
Multi-instrumentalist and Ensemble Director for the Merck Educational Arts Center in the Kimmel Center
- Lives: Philadelphia, PA
- Primary Instrument: Trombone (recognized as one of Philly's Tops of all time!)
- Secondary Instruments: Keyboards and Steel Drums...although pretty much if it makes music!
- Q: So what are you doing these days besides stealing other musicians names? :-)
- It sure seems like Marc Johnson is the name to have for a musician these days:
- there is both an acclaimed bassist as well as the renowned drummer...
- cats who have really set the bar high for the name!
- A: Currently
I'm the Ensemble Director for the Merck Educational Arts Center
in the Kimmel Center
Teaching students and especially the youth Jazz orchestra has been a huge priority - and reward for me in the past few years!
- Prior to joining Kimmel Center, Inc. as Teaching Artist/Educational Technology Coordinator,
- had directed (and still direct) a number of student ensembles including
- the All Philadelphia High School Jazz Band, which performed with
- many national and international jazz musicians.
- Q: Marc: You've been on the scene making great music for several years
- would you please share some of your background.
- A: I'm active as a pianist/arranger for various groups throughout the region.
- It's strangely funny because for now I've stepped back from the Trombone and been playing more
- Keyboards and Steel Drums than ever.
- Q: Are you still performing these days?
- Q: I know this is a loaded question: but what musician have most enjoyed
- meeting, playing with and learning from? Also who you most like to meet
- living or departed and why?
- A: Please Gimme some time to work on this. These are two tough questions for sure!
- Q: "Shameless plug for me time": so dude, who are you gonna call when you
- need that funky guitar / guitar synth player to round out your experimental compositions
- and take them to the next level?
- A: Actually been trying to get a hold of Adrian Belew :-)
- Seems like you have gotten a bit soft in your old age "Spock"!!
-
Rich: (Ouch) Yeah okay Marc...you got me right now, but I'm gonna bedangerous again someday: just wait and see!
-
-
I'm looking forward to locking in on some good stuff -
and pushing the state of the musical art form with you someday soon. - Click for information on:
- Phila's Kimmel Center and Kimmel Educational Programs
-
Mark: respect always...and best success, Rich
-
-
A: Yeah, I'm still active on the scene, working with different cats in a number of different contexts.
Q: So what's next Marc?
A:
I don't want to jinx things but
there is a nucleus of musicians that I'm associated
with that are
really leading to an exciting concept!
It would be great
to play again in a group dedicated to creating original music,
in a rather
non-traditional format!
I definitely
have some ideas, and this unit does too...
hopefully at
some point our collaboration will materialize as a recording .
I
do appreciate it and wish you the very best luck and success in all
of your endeavors
Actually
the most fun part for me was watching you mentoring the youth
Jazz orchestra!
The difference that you're making on those young players is priceless and shall live on!
