Jimmy Johnson (bassist)

Jimmy Johnson is a highly-regarded bass player who can be heard with a very diverse range of artists, including Allan Holdsworth, Michael Landau, James Taylor, Rod Stewart and Ray Charles, as well as his own work with Flim & the BB's - "Flim" being an early nickname of Johnson's.

Johnson is from a musical family. His father played bass for the Minnesota Orchestra, his mother was a piano teacher and accompianist, and his brother Gordy is also a professional musician. Raised near Wayzata, Minnesota, he played in prominent local bands D.E.B.B. Johnson (where he met Flim and the BB's keyboardist Billy Barber and Rise and Shine during the early 70's.

In recent years Johnson has been the most frequent bassist touring and recording with fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and is also seen frequently at Southern California jazz fusion club The Baked Potato in Studio City. Johnson has also appeared on keyboardist Derek Sherinian solo albums Inertia (2001) and Blood of the Snake (2006). He also appears on Planet X's MoonBabies (2002) and Quantum (2007).

Johnson made bass history when, in 1976, he worked with Alembic to create one of the first 5 string bass guitars with a low B string.

Selected Discography

With Flim & the BB's:

• Flim & the BB's (1978)
• Tricycle (1983)
• Tunnel (1984)
• Big Notes (1985)
• Neon (1987)
• The Further Adventures of Flim & the BB's (1988)
• New Pants (1990)
• Vintage/best of (1992)
• This Is A Recording (1992)
• Tricycle (SACD reissue) (1999)

Other Recordings:

• Dori Caymmi - Dori Caymmi (1988), Brasilian 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 Conté - La Cocina Caliente (1988), Black Forest (1989)
• Pat Coil - Steps (1990), Just Ahead (1992)
• Eddie Daniels - ...this is now (1991 - two tracks)
• Brandon Fields - The Traveler (1988), Other Places (1989)
• Stan Getz - Apasionado (1990)
• Don Grusin - Raven (1990)
• Roger Hodgson - In the Eve of the Storm (1984 - two tracks)
• Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue (1985), Atavachron (1986), Sand (1987), Secrets (1989), Wardenclyffe Tower (1992)
• Wayne Johnson - Arrowhead (1980), Grasshopper (1983), Everybody's Painting Pictures (1984), Spirit of the Dancer (1988)
• Karizma - Cuba (1986), Arms of Love (1989)
• Earl Klugh - Whispers and Promises (1989 - two tracks)
• Michael Landau - Tales From The Bulge (1990)
• Albert Lee - Gagged But Not Bound (1987)
• Kenny Loggins - December (1998)
• Sergio Mendes - Confetti (1984 -two tracks), Arara (1989), Brasileiro (1992 - two tracks)
• Simon Phillips - Symbiosis (1995)
• Porcupine - Look, But Don't Touch (1993)
• The Rippingtons - Moonlighting (1986)
• Lee Ritenour - Harlequin (1985), Earth Run (1986), Color Rit (1989), Collection (1991)
• Sahashi - Trust Me (1994 - two tracks, Japan)
• Dan Siegel - The Gateway (3 tracks)
• Vonda Shepard - The Radical Light (1992)
• James Taylor - New Moon Shine (1991), James Taylor Live (1993), Hourglass (1997)
• Steve Tavaglione - Blue Tav (1990 - three tracks)
• Sadao Watanabe - Maisha (1985)
• Ernie Watts - Musician (1985)
• Chad Wackerman - Forty Reasons (1991), The View (1993)
• Roger Waters - Amused to Death (1991)
• Ken Wiley - Visage (1986 - four of the seven tracks)

External links

• Jimmy Johnson Entry on the Europe Jazz Network
• Jimmy Johnson at All Music Guide