| The Drummers' Perspective - David Johnson |
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Interview Post: February, 2002
Occupation: Percussion Professor - California Institute of the Arts, School of Music, Website: www.music.calarts.edu
Published: 'Quartz City' (Publisher: Studio 4, Vibraphone solo with percussion quintet).
Biography: David Johnson plays vibraphone, marimba and percussion regularly with the Vinny Golia Large Ensemble, the Kim Richmond Jazz Orchestra, the World At Peace with Yusef Lateef, pianist Roger Williams, Dual Force, the CalArts New Century Players and XTET. He has worked with a wide range of artists including Dave Brubeck, Mel Torme, Maureen McGovern, Green Day, Pierre Boulez, Dean Drummond, Stephen Hartke, George Benjamin, and Mauricio Kagel. He has played in the percussion sections of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Long Beach Symphony, the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Cabrillo Festival, the Ojai Festival, the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood and occasionally in the Los Angeles television and film industry. He has performed with the California Ear Unit, the Southwest Chamber Music Society, the Independent Composers Association, Composers Inc., Pacific Serenade and the Philharmonic New Music Group. From 1974 to 1977 he was in residence at Northern Illinois University with the historic Blackearth Percussion Group. He has recorded for CRI, Opus One, Delos International, Nine Winds, Seabreeze, K2B2, Jazz Harp, Meta YAL ,Warner Brothers, and New World. He was the winner of the 1995 Percussive Arts Society composition competition with his piece "Quartz City" for vibraphone soloist and percussion quintet. He was a featured artist/clinician at the 1997 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Anaheim California. He has been teaching at the CalArts since 1990. |
Questions
The Drummers Lounge (TDL) |
Answers
David Johnson (DJ) |
TDL: If you could describe your playing as a food, what would it be? |
DJ: A: Vegetarian chili...it's full of substance, and has a touch of spice! |
TDL: What was the first instrument you learned to play? |
DJ: Piano |
TDL: What was the first percussion instrument you learned to play? |
DJ: The snare was first (rudimentary training), then on to the drum set. |
TDL: What attracted you to percussion? |
DJ: I liked the visual and tactile qualities, and the feelings that only an instrument can provide. |
TDL: What musical influences did you have as a child? |
DJ: Church organ music and the choir. Classical jazz also played a big part in that influence. |
TDL: How did that influence, affect your musical choices for the future? |
DJ: I think that those influences taught me, and reinforced in me, my strength in melody. |
TDL: What was your motivation to learn to play? |
DJ: Well, it had to be the instant rush and 'feel good' sensation I received when I would listen and play. Nothing could match that great feeling. |
TDL: What other instruments do you know how to play? |
DJ: Piano, Classical Percussion, Jazz and Classical mallets. |
TDL: What musical styles today, give you the most creative influence? |
DJ: Well again, I have to go back to Jazz. It is all about improvising and creativity. I also really like Persian and Indian music. It is very melodic, but different than mainstream music. It is free spirited. |
TDL: Who have you studied with? |
DJ: John Bergamo, David Freeman (Jazz mallets), Ed Grier (Rudimental snare). |
TDL: Who have you performed with? |
DJ: Black Earth Percussion (Classical percussion ensemble), Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Roger Williams (Classical-Popular), Usef Lateef, Vinnie Golia. |
TDL: How important is emotion in music? |
DJ: I can sum it up in one sentence....musicians have to be sensitive, yet stable. In other words, you have to be open to feel the music, but also disciplined to learn it. |
TDL: How does a person go about choosing an instrument? |
DJ: You just have to intuitively feel the voice of the instrument calling you. |
TDL: What is the number one element to becoming an established musician? |
DJ: You need to be willing to practice and stick with it. You need (have) to be involved in the process, and not just the result. |
TDL: When given the chance to inspire musicians today, from all walks of life, what words of wisdom would you give them? |
DJ: The feel of music is very spiritual. It is larger than any one person. If you think that you can change the course of music by yourself, you are dead wrong. You can only contribute a small portion. Then society decides where that portion goes. |
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