Alphonso Johnson

[daveonbass]

HEY HEY!!!

I played a show in Oshkosh, WI last night opening for the Gregg Rolie band: http://www.greggrolie.com/

And, yes indeed - his bassist is former Weather Report bassist ALPHONSO JOHNSON: http://www.embamba.com

Sooooo cool to get to meet a guy like that - he was one of my earliest influences in the 70s and I actually brought along his solo ALBUMS and had him sign them for me!

I walked up to him - I'm like "you're ALPHONSO JOHNSON!" Man, I grew up on bass listening to you and blah blah blah"... made a big deal about the guy, totally ignored the guy next to him who after 5 minutes finally introduced himself as Gregg Rolie... uh, whoops!



NEway - Gregg's band is set up much like Santana with two percussionists around the drummer, two keyboard players and guitar. EVERYONE got a solo EXCEPT Alphonso Johnson, which I just couldn't believe...

One thing I thought was WAY cool was how he played that show, though. he kept the groove, played very simple - did just what the songs called for and never showed off. Here's a guy I consider one of the best bass players in the world just playing it straight, which I thought was awesome. Harder to do that than show off, especially when their songs went kinda long and had tons of vamping.

That's all, I'm still kinda excited I not only got to MEET him, but open for them at an awesome festival on the river in my home town... VERY cool night.

[markjazzbassist]

cool story man. that's cool that you got to meet him. i really dig alphonso johnson too. i have one of his solo albums, Spellbound, it's really wierd, i don't really like it. BUT, i LOVE his stuff with weather report. he is a great bassist and definately a huge influence.

[jerry]

Alphonso has some history with Gregg Rolie, he is on his solo album and was in the excellent band of ex-Santana members called Abraxas Pool. Alphonso is one of my all-time favorites, I would have been gushing over him too. They should give Alphonse back his masters of his solo albums so he can release them, Spellbound wasn't one of the better ones.

[daveonbass]

I think some of the band members had no idea he even HAD solo albums!



He played a Modulus Q5 through an Eden WT800 and two SWR 4x10 cabs, BTW.

[JimK]

I once asked AJ at a clinic:
"How come you haven't aged in the past 25 years"?

Gregg Rollie's Roots album has been on my list for awhile now.
I recall having that Abraxas Pool disc in my hands awhile ago...honestly, I didn't really dig it(I forget why)...now it's OOP & pretty damn expensive at places like Amazon.

Another Rollie/Alphonso connection-
Ndgu Chancler was in Weather Report for a cup of coffee(he was on Tale Spinning w/ Alphonso)...Chancler left Weather Report to join Santana's band. Chancler sounds like two guys playing(drummer + a percussionist rolled into one); IIRC, Santana was able to tour with one less percussionist.

[narud]

Originally Posted by jerry

Alphonso has some history with Gregg Rolie, he is on his solo album and was in the excellent band of ex-Santana members called Abraxas Pool. Alphonso is one of my all-time favorites, I would have been gushing over him too. They should give Alphonse back his masters of his solo albums so he can release them, Spellbound wasn't one of the better ones.

all his albums are coming out in a month or so on wounded bird. i already have moonshadows and yesterdays dreams on cd via imports, but i preordered all the re-releases last week anyway

[daveonbass]

Originally Posted by narud

all his albums are coming out in a month or so on wounded bird. i already have moonshadows and yesterdays dreams on cd via imports, but i preordered all the re-releases last week anyway

AWESOME bit' info!



http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/...so+Johnson.htm

Looks like they come out on September 26th...

[jmarcus2]

A unique bassist who I remember played understated, grooved hard, and could deal the monstrous chops when needed.

[jerry]

Thanks for the heads up Narud! Wounded Bird has been cool for some re-releases like Flora Purim's WB catalog that has long been out of print domestically.

[The Funk]

Cucumber Slumber. That's all I have to say.