Hailing from the City Of Brotherly Love, Grammy nominated
keyboardist Gail Jhonson adds to Philadelphia’s legacy of pioneering music
luminaries. “I am proud to be a part of the Philly sound. When I was growing
up, you couldn’t walk too far before you heard a band or some instruments
practicing,” recalls Jhonson, who is affectionately dubbed the “First Lady Of
Smooth Jazz.” "I share the same love of orchestral instruments, horn
sections, vocal groups and rhythm sections, that was made famous by TSOP, Bell,
Huff, Harris, Creed, Wanzel.," shares the keyboardist. "Oh such a
long list of my composition heroes!” With this rich tradition being a part of
Gail Jhonson’s undeniable musical DNA, it is no surprise that she was
performing professionally by the age of 14. “I love it so much,” she confides. “I
don’t know why, I just think it chose me!”
This summer Gail Jhonson will release her Shanachie debut
album featuring her all-star female band, Jazz In Pink. Jhonson, who is a woman
on a mission, created the ensemble as a way to address her concern that women
are under represented on the jazz scene particularly as instrumentalists.
“Traditionally, most vocalists played piano, but were encouraged to only
present their vocal skills on stage, while their instrumental expression was
suppressed,” she explains, “Our ensemble is dedicated to the blending of
piano-violin-flute-harp as a core presentation: orchestral instruments playing
melodically over the rhythm section (bass-drums-guitar-percussion). Add in
jazzy R&B vocals, and that female energy of passion, beauty and fire;
creates sheer Sisterness of rhythm, composition, performance and the pink
principal-all expressed on stages that inspire. We wear pink, our fans wear
pink, which shows we are all in solidarity and resonate together in our brand
of musical expression.”
Gail Jhonson’s first single of her anticipated new CD is the
intoxicating, uplifting and jubilant “Joy Joy,” which just debuted in the Top
30 of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. The track is a spotlight for
Jhonson as she welcomes two special guests, saxophonist Kim Waters and
guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr. Jhonson and Waters’ connection extends back many
years, as the two have collaborated through the years with guitarist Norman
Brown. Jhonson says, “Working with Kim in the studio gave me a deeper
appreciation for his talent and his spirit as a person. He took ‘Joy Joy' to
another level, infusing his own joy of sax.....what a consummate musician.”
Jhonson wrote the song with her writing partner, Gino Valentino.
Danny Weiss, VP of Jazz and A&R for Shanachie
Entertainment states, “As Norman Brown's long time music director, it's obvious
that Gail Jhonson is a superb musician. But it's the warmth and inner spirit
that infuses her music that make her truly special. It's a joy to be associated
with her.”
An alumni of Berklee College of Music, where she earned a
degree in composition, Gail Jhonson is based in Los Angeles, where she is an
in-demand player on the scene. She has held down the role as Music Director for
Grammy winning guitarist Norman Brown for over two decades. “I resonate with
Norman’s music and his full expression on stage is stellar. He trusts me with
the flow of his show, and knows that the best I have to offer is always there,”
shares Jhonson. A musician’s musician, whose musical arsenal draws from the
worlds of straight-ahead Jazz, R&B, Funk and Gospel, Jhonson has
collaborated with a wide cross-section of artists from Bobby Womack, Janet
Jackson, Pink and Morris Day (Time) to Sheila E., Ray Parker Jr., Peabo Bryson
and Patti Austin.
Gail Jhonson’s free musical spirit, keen musicianship and
captivating energy make her a joy to be behold. With the release of “Joy Joy”
and her Shanachie debut due out this Summer, the sky is the limit. “Everyone is
waiting and anticipating! Folks all over the country are sending me screenshots
of the radio when the song comes on! That’s a beautiful thing, when music moves
you to excitement and pushes you to look forward to the future,” confides
Jhonson. “It offers you a glimpse of freedom from worry and other issues that
life causes us to tend to. I’m hoping this new CD will be a momentary light and
an everlasting love for music fans all around the globe.”
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