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Alphonso Johnson

The Owl

The Owl

Aug 14, 2005
5,398
14,882
GA
talktobears.hearnow.com
#1
I've recently acquired in digital form bassist Alphonso Johnson's 3 70's solo discs "Moonshadows", Yesterdays Dreams" and "Spellbound"

To put it mildly, these things are all over the map stylistically ranging from get-down funk (some vocal tunes), rocking symphonic prog, haunting almost ambient stuff, (with doses of Chapman Stick and upright bass thrown in) and more.

Some things fly really well, others not so much (like when Al tries his hand at singing, it's OK but not great). I think the last of the batch "Spellbound" shows Alphonso's greatest strengths AND weaknesses at the same time. However, it's got more than it's share of good moments and a killer band with Kevin Shrieve and Pat Thrall on guitars, Clyde Criner on keys, Dave Iglefeld on drums. The previous albums have completely different musicians on every track, custom tailored for each song's needs.

Any thoughts or comments on these or Alphonso in general?
 
#2
Back in the day--when I was developing my style, or trying, I cited three big influences:

Stanley Clarke, Al Johnson, and Jaco.

Back then I also owned all three of those recordings you mentioned, and as time passed I realized that 'Spellbound', as good as it was, is my least fave of them.

Alphonso had some really memorable passages--in a voice of his own, which I consider one of the sure signs of a great player. Are you aware of his work with Weather Report? He was the bassist before Jaco came on board, and during that transition both of them appeared on one of their greatest albums "Black Market". AJ played the title track.

But to me where he made his mark was on the earlier recording 'Mysterious Traveler'--the song 'Cucumber Slumber' features one of the coolest glissando licks ever in E7, alternating with super-funky grooving in C#7. Every serious player should check it out.

(Interesting trivia: Johnson was before that a member of Chuck Mangione's group, where he replaced--or was replaced by, believe it or not, Tony Levin!--it was the first I ever heard Levin, in the early 70's, and he was blazing--so I was completely unsurprised to hear him with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson in later years.}

Johnson also played on Allan Holdsworth's first recording--plus there's all the stuff with Billy Cobham, George Duke, Flora Purim, and God knows who else. And later I believe he was approached by Genesis to join their touring band. I think all that tells us something.

The guy's a great player.
 
#3
My favorites of the Alphonso albums were in the order they were released, Moonshadows, Yesterdays Dreams and Spellbound. My other favorite work of Alphonso besides Weather Report was his playing on the Flora Purim recordings on the Milestones label.
 
#7
One of my favorite albums with Alphonso Johnson is Flora Purim's Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly - especially the title track and the versions of "Sometime Ago" (also on the first Return to Forever album) and "Andei (I Walked)" - great grooves and creative use of effects!

And of course the Weather Report stuff!
 
#8
Just to add, I like his playing on the Jazz is Dead albums. For those who don't know, it's a Grateful Dead "cover" band (fusion style) with a lineup consisting of Jimmy Herring (gtr), T Lavitz (keys), Alphonso (b), Billy Cobham and later Jeff Sipe (drums). Whether it's a laid back hippy-esque jam-band groove, or a burning fusion number with blistering guitar solos, Alphonso holds down the groove!

The word I would use to describe Alphonso's groove is "solid". IMO, he has a similar kind of "authority" to his groove like Anthony Jackson. (Granted, I haven't heard everything Alphonso has done.)
 
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#9
Alphonso does not get the credit that he deserves as a bassist, IMHO. As a matter of fact, on the back cover of Weather Report's Black Market CD, he isn't even on the photo (Jaco's in that picture) in spite of having played on almost all the tracks! In a picture that I saw back in the day, Alphonso was seen giving pointers to the bassist who was taking his place when he left Billy Paul's band. That bassist, who you may know, was Anthony Jackson! The man can flat out play!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#10
Agree with everyone else...another closet classic is the CBS ALL-STARS-Montreux Summit Vol. 1 (1977) . Check out Alphonso's "Bahama Mama".

BTW, "Black Market" is cool...but also check out "Hernandu" & "Elegant People".

Anybody have Abraxas Pool?
 
#15
Somehow, despite being a major 'Zo fan, I still have never heard Moonshadows or Yesterday's Dreams. But I'm familiar with everything else mentioned in this thread, and yeah, he's a player with exquisite taste, sublime & uniquely personal tone, a gorgeous touch, and serious muscle. I'm always excited when I see his name in the credits.

A couple of tunes not yet mentioned that I think succinctly represent some of 'Zo's strengths:
- "Every Tear From Every Eye" by John Mclaughlin (from the 1977 Johnny Mclaughlin Electric Guitarist album). Beautiful piquant ballad that features a bass solo to die for. Just unbelievably tasteful, sensetive, and tender.
- "Stay With Me Tonight" by Jeffrey Osborne. Yeah, that tune, the one that was all over the R&B charts in the early 1980s. That punchy, reverb-drenched slap&pop bassline just drills the groove home.
 
#16
JimK said:
Agree with everyone else...another closet classic is the CBS ALL-STARS-Montreux Summit Vol. 1 (1977) . Check out Alphonso's "Bahama Mama".
Click to expand...

His solo on Blues March off of the album also just kills. I'm still listening to the vinyl version of that album.;)
Bahama Mama turned up on a few albums within a year, Montreux Summit, *Alivemutherforya and his Spellbound album. My favorite Weather Report era is the Alphonso period, Mysterious Traveler and Tail Spinning are my favorite WR albums.


* the band with Tom Scott, Steve Khan and Billy Cobham. I seem to remember them as something else, but the album is now released under Cobham's name.
 
#17
Alphonso Johnson is one of my biggest influences, and one of the tastier and groovier players around...his solo on George Duke's "floop the loop" is still outstanding after 35 years!!!
An album featuring Alphonso that I particulary like is "Passages" by Frank Gambale, not flashy/chopsy lines (except a couple of tunes), but tasty palying which fits perfectly for the songs, including a couple of great fretless performances...
 
#18
jerry said:
My favorites of the Alphonso albums were in the order they were released, Moonshadows, Yesterdays Dreams and Spellbound. My other favorite work of Alphonso besides Weather Report was his playing on the Flora Purim recordings on the Milestones label.
Click to expand...

jerry said:
His solo on Blues March off of the album also just kills. I'm still listening to the vinyl version of that album.;)
Bahama Mama turned up on a few albums within a year, Montreux Summit, *Alivemutherforya and his Spellbound album. My favorite Weather Report era is the Alphonso period, Mysterious Traveler and Tail Spinning are my favorite WR albums.


* the band with Tom Scott, Steve Khan and Billy Cobham. I seem to remember them as something else, but the album is now released under Cobham's name.
Click to expand...

Sometimes, jerry, I'd swear we were seperated at birth.
:D

I still have just about everything mentioned on vinyl and have had most of it for decades. My intro to AJ was Mysterious Traveller, still my favorite WR album despite being told to the contrary;). Bought all of his solo projects as they were released and I even dug his singing with the Chapman stick:D. He's also on Lee Ritenour's early solo projects "Captain Fingers", he's on the title track and though I've never re-investigated I'm pretty sure that's AJ and AJ on that track. Pretty cool.

Here's Al with Billy Cobham, John Scofied and George Duke (what a bunch of lightweights ;)) back in 1976. Check out his bass:D

 
#19
Brad Johnson said:
Here's Al with Billy Cobham, John Scofied and George Duke (what a bunch of lightweights ;)) back in 1976. Check out his bass:D

Click to expand...


Cool... never heard that clip! AJ looks like he's about 15, and Scofield looks like James Taylor in 1972! Awesome.

I never really went to school on Alphonso (other than his tracks on Black Market). Awesome player.
 
#20
Brad Johnson said:
Sometimes, jerry, I'd swear we were seperated at birth.
:D

I still have just about everything mentioned on vinyl and have had most of it for decades. My intro to AJ was Mysterious Traveller, still my favorite WR album despite being told to the contrary;). Bought all of his solo projects as they were released and I even dug his singing with the Chapman stick:D. He's also on Lee Ritenour's early solo projects "Captain Fingers", he's on the title track and though I've never re-investigated I'm pretty sure that's AJ and AJ on that track. Pretty cool.

Here's Al with Billy Cobham, John Scofied and George Duke (what a bunch of lightweights ;)) back in 1976. Check out his bass:D

Click to expand...


man, i forgot about captain fingers. as much as i love jackson and what he does, theres a certain stankness to how johnson plays the line on the album version that cant be beat compared to how jackson played it on gentle thoughts.:bassist:
 

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