Russell Johnson

Associate Professor - Jazz
Music Department
Master of Fine Arts, Manhattan School of Music, 2000
PHONE: (262) 595-2292
EMAIL: johnsr01@uwp.edu
http://www.russjohnsonmusic.net

Trumpeter Russ Johnson is a recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City’s jazz community. He has 7 recordings as a leader or co-leader and performed on more than 75 recordings as a sideman. Russ has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, he has recorded and/or performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. Russ has performed in more than 40 countries across the globe. His groups have recently performed at the Chicago, Winter Jazz Fest (NYC) Hyde Park, (Chicago) and Bergamo, (Italy) jazz festivals.

His most recent recordings, Meeting Point (Relay Recordings) and Still Out To Lunch! (Enja Records) received 4 1/2 & 4 stars respectively from Down Beat Magazine and appeared on many “Best Recordings of 2014/5” lists including Down Beat, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, NYC Jazz Record and Magnet magazine. Russ will be releasing a new recording by his “Headlands” Quartet in 2017.

Russ is also active as an educator/clinician, having taught at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Europe. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin Parkside where he won the university wide “Stella Gray” Teaching Excellence award in 2016 as well as the 2020 Research and Creative Activity Award.

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Publications

Selected Publications

2020: Ohad Talmor 8 Deja Vu...featuring Lee Konitz, Ohadsounds

2020: Johnson/Rempis/Abrams/Spencer/Cunningham - Harmattan, Aerophonic records

2020: Stirrup+6 - The Avondale Addition, Cuneiform Records

2020: Chicago Yestet - Not There Yet, Tiddlywinks Music

2019: Jeb Bishop Flex Quartet: Re-Collect, Not Two Records

2019: Reactions to music performance injury rehabilitation: Brandon Jackson, a freshman music performance major, Routledge

2018: Ken Thomson - Sextet, New Focus Records

2018: Russ Johnson Headlands, Woolgathering Records

2018: Geof Bradfield - Yes, and...Music for Nine Improvisers, Delmark Records

2018: Johannes Wallmann - Love Wins, Fresh Sound Records

2016: Chicago Sessions, Fonterossa Records

2016: Zahskl's Jukebox Volume 2., Self Released by Steve Lampert

2016: Loom/Large - Festival, Woolgathering Records

2016: Touch My Beloved's Thought,

2016: Choreographic, Mpress Records

2015: Always Something, MWP Records

2015: Cooperstown: Jazz Opera in Nine Innings, Albany Recordings

2015: Zahskl's Jukebox Volume 1, Self Released by Steve Lampert

2015: Doors (Chicago Storylines), Ears & Eyes Records

2015: A Look Beyond (Cap-Vert Illuminations), Challenge Records

2015: A Man Can't Ride On One, Whistler Records

2015: Interpretations, Self Released by Kenny Reichert

2014: The Town Musicians, Fresh Sound Records

2014: Low Down, Oscilloscope Laboratories

2014: Russ Johnson "Still Out To Lunch", Enja/YellowBird Recordings

2014: Settle , NCM East Recordings

2014: Russ Johnson - "Meeting Point", Relay Recordings

2012: Co Streiff/Russ Johnson Quartet "In Circles", Intakt Records

2012: Mettle, Playscape Recordings

2012: "Back in the Mix", Speecless Records

2011: Acrobat: Music by & for Dmitri Shostakovich,

Selected Awards & Honors

Teaching Awards

2018: Nominated for the Stella Gray Teach Award; ineligible...criteria states the "Recipients of the award in the last 7 years are not eligible to receive the award.", Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award nomination,

2017: Nominated for the Stella Gray Teach Award; ineligible...criteria states the "Recipients of the award in the last 7 years are not eligible to receive the award.", Stella Gray Teach Award Nomination,

2016: Awarded Stella Gray Teaching Excellence award, Stella Gray Teaching Excellence award,

2015: Nomination for Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award, Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award Nomination,

Research/Creative Awards

2020: 2020 Winner of the CRCA - Research and Creative Activity Award

, Research and Creative Activity Award CRCA - 2020, UW Parkside

2019: My recording :Headlands" appeared on the initial GRAMMY ballot in the category of "Best Instrumental Jazz Recording" category, appearance on the GRAMMY ballot, Grammy awards

2016: My recording "Still Out to Lunch" made the "Best Albums of 2015" list in Down Beat Magazine. (released in 2014, reviewed in 2015), "Best Jazz Recordings of 2015", Down Beat Magazine

2016: My recording "Still Out to Lunch!" (4 stars) was listed among the "Best CD's of 2015 by Down Beat Magazine., Best CD's of 2015, Down Beat Magazine

2015: My recording "Meeting Point" also ended up on the Best Jazz Recordings of 2014 year end lists in the following blogs/print media. Acoustic Levitation One Man's Jazz Music Corner Kevernacular, "Best Jazz Recordings of 2014", WMSE Radio, Acoustic Levitation, One Man's Jazz, Music Corner, Kevernacular,

2015: My recording "Meeting Point" (4 1/2 stars) was listed among the "Best CD's of 2014 by Down Beat Magazine., Best CD's of 2014, Down Beat Magazine

2015: My recording "Still Out to Lunch!" appeared in the "Best Jazz Albums of 2014" year end lists on WMSE and WWUH Radio., Best Jazz Recordings of 2014, WMSE, WWUH Radio

2015: My recording "Meeting Point" was listed among the Top 10 (#6) Jazz/Improv recordings of 2014 by Magnet Magazine., Best Recordings of 2014, Magnet Magazine

2015: My recording "Still Out to Lunch!" appeared in the New York City Jazz Record's "Best Jazz Albums of 2014." in the "tribute" category., Best Recordings of 2014, New York City Jazz Record

2015: One of 20 records considered for the Der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik Year End Jazz Prize. (for my recording Still Out to Lunch), Jury Prizes for Jazz (Jahrespreis 2014), Preis Der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik

2014: My recording "Meeting Point" was the # 2 record of the year in the Chicago Contemporary Jazz category in the Chicago Reader's "Our favorite music of 2014." http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/year-review-best-favorite-list-albums-shows-2014/Content?oid=15960787, Chicago Reader "Our favorite music of 2014" year end list, Chicago Reader

2014: My recording "Still Out to Lunch!" appeared in the Chicago Tribune's "Best Jazz Albums of 2014." http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-regina-carter-orbert-davis-henry-butler-best-jazz-2014-20141202-column.html, "Chicago Tribune "Best Jazz Albums of 2014", Chicago Tribune

2013: Recognition for Co Streiff/Russ Johnson Quartet's recording "In Circles" on Intakt records., Best CD's of 2012, Down Beat Magazine

Key Service Activities

Departmental Service

2020: - UWP Visit Day Interview

2020: Interaction with Industry - Melodious Mondays Feature

2019: Other - Faculty Representative

2019: Faculty Mentor - Faculty Representative - Student Recital

2019: Interaction with Industry - Faculty Organizer - Noon Concert

2019: Other - Faculty Representative

2019: Other - WMSE Radio

2018: Other -

2018: - Faculty Representative Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference

2018: Program Organizer -

2018: Other -

2018: Program Organizer -

2018: Other -

2017: - Faculty Representative Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference

2017: Other -

2016: Other - Faculty Representative Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference

2015: - Music Department Representative at Midwest Band Clinic - Chicago, IL

2015: Program Organizer -

2015: - Faculty representative at WI Music Educators Association Conference

2015: Program Organizer -

2015: - Music Department Representative

2014: - Music Department Representative

2014: -

2013: Interaction with Industry - University/Department Representqative

2013: Other - Volunteer UW-P Arts & Crafts Fair

2013: Faculty Advisor - Music Department Representative

2012: Faculty Advisor - Music Department Representative

2012: Other - Music Department Representative

2012: Faculty Advisor - Music Department Representative

2012: Other - Music Department Representative

2011: Faculty Advisor - Music Department Representative

University Service

: Faculty Advisor - Martin Luther King Day Celebration

2021: Faculty Advisor - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Faculty Advisor

2020: Chairperson - UW Parkside Jazz Week

2020: Faculty Advisor - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Faculty Advisor

2019: Other - Concert Organizer

2019: Other - Faculty liason/representative - Wuhan China Trip Jianghan University

2019: Other - UW PARKSIDE JAZZ WEEK ORGANIZER/CURATOR

2019: Committee Member - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee

2018: Other - UW Parkside Jazz Week

2018: Committee Member - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee

2017: Program Organizer -

2016: Committee Member - Lecture & Fine Arts Committee

2016: Program Organizer -

2015: Student Recruiter - Music Department Recruitment

2015: Program Organizer -

2014: Other - Music Department Representative

2014: Attendee, Graduation - Marshal - UW-Parkside Graduation Ceremony

2014: Program Organizer -

2013: Attendee, Graduation - Marshal - UW-Parkside Graduation

2013: Attendee, Graduation - Marshal - UWP Graduation

2013: Other - Music Department Representative

2012: Attendee, Graduation - Marshal - UW-Parkside Graduation

2012: Student Recruiter - Music Department Recruitment

2011: Student Recruiter - Music Department Recruitment

Professional Service

2020: - Wisconsin Music Podcasts

2020: - UW Madison Doctoral Thesis Committee

2020: Committee Member - UW Milwaukee Doctoral Dissertation Committee

Courses Taught

MUSA 120 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 121 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 220 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 221 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 300 - JUNIOR RECITAL
MUSA 320 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 321 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 400 - SENIOR RECITAL
MUSA 420 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSA 421 - APPLIED TRUMPET
MUSI 106 - JAZZ APPRECIATION (DV)
MUSI 346 - JAZZ HISTORY
MUSI 425 - JAZZ ARRANGING
MUSI 447 - JAZZ STYLES
MUSI 499 - INDEPENDENT STUDY
MUSI 499 - INDEPENDENT STUDY:
MUSP 102 - LARGE MUSIC ENSEMBLE
MUSP 102 - LARGE MUSIC ENSEMBLE:
MUSP 223 - FUNDAMENTALS OF IMPROVISATION
MUSP 224 - JAZZ IMPROVISATION I
MUSP 323 - JAZZ IMPROVISATION II
MUSP 324 - JAZZ IMPROVISATION III
MUSP 366 - JAZZ COMBO

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