Jimmy Johnson (bassist)

Jimmy Johnson
Background information
Born	1956 (age 67–68)
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, rock, folk rock
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Bass guitar

Jimmy Johnson (born 1956) is an American bass guitarist best known for his work with James Taylor, Allan Holdsworth, and Flim & the BB's. Raised in a rich musical environment, his father was a 47-year member of the Minnesota Orchestra's bass section, his mother a piano teacher and accompanist, and his brother Gordon is also a professional bassist.

In 1976, Johnson worked with Alembic and GHS to create one of the first 5-string bass guitars with a low B string. Living in the Los Angeles area since 1979, Johnson continues to record and tour with singer-songwriter James Taylor and also appears with various groups at The Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City, California.

Selected discography

• 3rd Matinee – Meanwhile (1994)
• Chris Botti – Night Sessions (2001 – six tracks)
• Paul Brady – Trick or Treat (1992 – two tracks)
• Phil Buckle – Custom Made (2022)
• Dewa Budjana – Joged Kahyangan (2012), Surya Namaskar (2014)
• Dori Caymmi – Dori Caymmi (1988), Brazilian Serenata (1991)
• Billy Childs – Take For Example This (1988), Twilight Is Upon Us (1989), His April Touch (1991 – three tracks), I've Known Rivers (1994), Lyric (2005)
• Luis Conte – La Cocina Caliente (1988), Black Forest (1989), Marimbula (2007), Two Worlds (2010)
• Eddie Daniels – ...this is now (1991 – two tracks)
• DNA – Rick Derringer and Carmine Appice – Party Tested (1983)
• Flim & the BB's – Flim & The BB's (1978), Tricycle (1983), Tunnel (1984), Big Notes (1985), Neon (1987), The Further Adventures... (1988), New Pants (1990), Vintage/best of (2010), This Is A Recording (1992), Tricycle (SACD reissue) (1999)
• Fra Lippo Lippi - Light and Shade (1987 - three tracks)
• Brandon Fields – The Traveler (1988), Other Places (1989)
• The Steve Gadd Band – Gadditude (2013), 70 Strong (2015), Way Back Home: Live from Rochester, NY (2016), Steve Gadd Band (2018)
• Stan Getz – Apasionado (1990)
• Don Grusin – Raven (1990)
• Allen Hinds – Fact Of The Matter (2005), Falling Up (2008), Monkeys and Slides (2011), Fly South (2016)
• Roger Hodgson – In the Eye of the Storm (1984 – two tracks)
• Allan Holdsworth – I.O.U. Live (1984), Metal Fatigue (1985), Atavachron (1986), Sand (1987), Secrets (1989), Wardenclyffe Tower (1992), All Night Wrong (2002), Then! (2004), Against The Clock (2005), Tales From The Vault (2016 – one track only), Live in Japan 1984 (2018)
• Steve Hunt - Connections (2021 - two tracks)
• Steve Hunt & Tim Miller - Changes (2024 - four tracks)
• Gary Husband – Dirty & Beautiful, Vol. 1 (2010), Dirty & Beautiful, Volume 2 (2011)
• Gary Husband and Alf Terje Hana – the Trackers - Vaudeville 8:45 (2022 – two tracks)
• Elton John – The Road To El Dorado (2000 – three tracks)
• Wayne Johnson – Arrowhead (1980), Grasshopper (1983), Everybody's Painting Pictures (1984), Spirit of the Dancer (1988)
• Karizma – Cuba (1986), Arms of Love (1989), Perfect Harmony (2012 – 10 tracks)
• Oz Noy – Fuzzy (2007)
• Earl Klugh – Whispers and Promises (1989 – two tracks)
• Michael Landau – Tales From The Bulge (1990), Live 2000 (2000), Live (2006), Liquid Quartet Live (2020)
• Gloria Trevi – Me Siento Tan Sola (1992)
• Albert Lee – Gagged But Not Bound (1987)
• Kenny Loggins – December (1998)
• Lyle Mays – Eberhard (2021)
• Sérgio Mendes – Confetti (1984 – two tracks), Arara (1989), Brasileiro (1992 – two tracks), Oceano (1996)
• Vince Mendoza – Nights on Earth (2011)
• Dominic Miller – 5th House (2010)
• Nahuel Pennisi – Feliz (2017)
• Simon Phillips – Symbiosis (1995)
• Michael Pinder– The Promise (Mike Pinder album)
• Planet X – Moonbabies (2002), Quantum (2007)
• Michel Polnareff – Enfin! (2018)
• Emily Remler – This Is Me (1990 - two tracks)
• The Rippingtons – Moonlighting (1986), Kilimanjaro (1988), 20th Anniversary (2006)
• Lee Ritenour – Harlequin (1985), Earth Run (1986), Color Rit (1989), Collection (1991)
• Draco Rosa – Frío (1994), Songbirds and Roosters (1998)
• Vonda Shepard – The Radical Light (1992)
• Derek Sherinian – Inertia (2001), Oceana (2011), The Phoenix (2020 - three tracks)
• Susie Suh – Susie Suh (2005)
• James Taylor – New Moon Shine (1991), Live (1993), Hourglass (1997), October Road (2002), James Taylor at Christmas (2004, 2006 – three tracks), Covers (2008), Other Covers (EP) (2009), Before This World (2015), American Standard (2020 - one track)
• Steve Tavaglione – Blue Tav (1990 – three tracks)
• Sadao Watanabe – Maisha (1985)
• Ernie Watts – Musician (1985)
• Chad Wackerman – Forty Reasons (1991), The View (1993), Dreams Nightmares and Improvisations (2012)
• Roger Waters – Amused to Death (1992)
• Gary Wright – Who Am I (1988 – four tracks)
• Yoshida Brothers – Renaissance (2004)

Selected individual tracks:

• Peter Cetera – "Even A Fool Can See" from the album World Falling Down
• Ray Charles – "If I Could" from the album My World
• Al Jarreau – "Something You Said" from the album Tomorrow Today
• Madonna – "I'll Remember" – (from the soundtrack of the film With Honors)
• Aaron Neville – "That's The Way She Loves" from the album Warm Your Heart
• Rod Stewart – "Broken Arrow" from the album Vagabond Heart

External links

• Jimmy Johnson Entry on the Europe Jazz Network
• Jimmy Johnson at Allmusic