Alex Johnson

Bio -

Alex Johnson began playing violin at the age of 10. Having been inspired by a Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto featuring Yehudi Menuhin as the violin soloist, Alex asked his father for a violin. For his tenth birthday he got his first violin.

During his training at University of Utah Department of Music he played violin in both orchestras and chamber orchestras, favoring earlier classical music styles. As he worked his way through music school, additional musical influences began changing his life. His work while at music school included hosting music events for the music department. Because of this he saw countless performances of every sort of music, from piano recitals to modern music multimedia events, and took part in all of the 'behind the scenes' activities that make up performances.

Alex Johnson

 
Composer -

1. One who composes; an author.
Specifically, an author of a piece of music.

While continuing to take violin lessons through high school, at the age of 14 Alex also began playing electric bass guitar in heavy metal rock bands... inspired by groups like Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. His first band, Armageddon, was an all original hard hitting trio.

Through these experiences in heavy metal and playing with others he learned to improvise and compose music and songs.

After leaving music school and his violin studies, Alex began playing in rock bands again in the Seattle area, in the early 1980's. He took an active part in the Seattle heavy metal music scene which at that time included Queensryche, Sanctuary, Fifth Angel, Metal Church etc.

Only after his last heavy metal band (Hammer) disbanded in 1987 did he begin integrating violin into his heavier brand of music.

• Releases by Alex Johnson include:

  Music For Earth Orbit / Space Music
  The Traffic Jam Suite / Ambient Music For On Or Off The Road
  Orpheus / Early Music
  Drive 55 / Soothing Cruising

For more details, reviews and music samples
of these releases please visit the Alex Johnson Music Catalog

Alex's musical style blends melodious violin strains with bass guitar and synthesizer, drawing from his influences of classical music, North Indian classical music and rock bands such as Pink Floyd. It incorporates modern techniques and technical advancements, but reaches back to the expressive elements of the classical traditions.

Alex Johnson is currently engaged in fusing a new style of "east joins west" on violin, and studying and performing music founded in the North Indian Classical tradition.

The trio Jivan Gita is Alex's most recent musical exploration.

Members of Jivan Gita are: Alex Johnson, violin, David Brunn, tabla, and Diane Givens, tanpura. Their dynamic mixture of musical influences and cultural understanding delivers a truly remarkable musical experience each time they perform. Jivan Gita symbolizes a joyful thankfulness in creating and performing music.

Jivan Gita and Alex Johnson have finished recording a new record. To read more about Jivan Gita, and hear some sound samples ... please visit the Jivan Gita Home Page.

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