Howard Johnson - RIP

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Howard Johnson's partner Nancy Olewine just announced on Facebook that he died after a long illness.

https://www.facebook.com/HowardJohnsonTuba/posts/3584798164908759

I only got to see and hear Howard once but he really played his ass off. Truly an original when it comes to tuba Jazz.

[JSngry]

Look at all the music this man played, the places he went and the people with whom he collaborated, not just on tuba, but on baritone saxophone.

Truly, this was a unique voice for our time. Let us celebrate how much there there was (and will remain) for and because of him.

RIP, and much love here.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I saw him in Gravity, which was all tuba. Being a huge fan of the baritone sax, I often wished he would come to Boston with it, but alas, it was not to be.

And I do love the color Howard's tuba gave Mobley's "A Slice of the Top".

[mjazzg]

That's sad.

His playing on Pharaoh Sanders' 'Isipho Zam (My Gifts)' gets me every time. 

 

Edited January 11, 2021 by mjazzg

[jlhoots]

I saw him in person in Boston MANY years ago in a group with Shepp, Rudd, Haden & Beaver Harris. Raised the roof. R.I.P.

[sidewinder]

Very sad news. I saw him just over 10 years ago as part of Charles Tolliver’s Big Band and he looked in good shape at that time. He was doubling on both baritone and tuba. Yes, his work on Mobley’s ‘Slice’ album was great, as was his work with Gil Evans - RIP.

First albums I heard with him I think were Shepp’s ‘Mama Too Tight’ and the Evans Hendrix tribute.

Edited January 11, 2021 by sidewinder

[clifford_thornton]

Oh wow, sad news. Great player; never got to see him in person, but his contributions to many records I cherish, well... those cannot be understated.

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP. 

[soulpope]

R.I.P ....

[optatio]

 

From 1990 to 1995 he was a member of the NDR Bigband and lived in Hamburg - R.I.P.

[BillF]

Saw him in Manchester (Free Trade Hall, of course) in 1978 with the sensational Gil Evans orch that you can hear on the album Svengali.

[rpklich]

Last I heard him live (on tuba) was at the New Orleans Jazz Fest in the early ‘00s.  Never got to Chicago enough.  R.I.P.

[soulpope]

30 minutes ago, BillF said:

Saw him in Manchester (Free Trade Hall, of course) in 1978 with the sensational Gil Evans orch that you can hear on the album Svengali.

Saw him with Gil Evans in the early 80's ....

[sidewinder]

51 minutes ago, BillF said:

Saw him in Manchester (Free Trade Hall, of course) in 1978 with the sensational Gil Evans orch that you can hear on the album Svengali.

I had a ticket for the Colston Hall performance on that tour but couldn’t make it - snowed in !

[Rabshakeh]

Sad to hear. He’s on a lot of recordings I treasure.

[kh1958]

I recollect seeing him at the Caravan of Dreams back in the 1980s, at a fantastic Jack DeJohnette Special Edition concert.

[mjzee]

RIP.  Loved him on Taj Mahal's The Real Thing - he did the brass arrangements.  He seemed to be everywhere in NYC in the mid-70's.

[JSngry]

Rock Of Ages, he was on that one too.

The guy did play some music!

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

RIP

[felser]

19 minutes ago, mjzee said:

RIP.  Loved him on Taj Mahal's The Real Thing - he did the brass arrangements.  He seemed to be everywhere in NYC in the mid-70's.

+1, RIP.

[mjzee]

[sgcim]

Very sad to hear. He seemed to be playing with everyone in NYC 'back in the day'.I saw him with Gil Evans at Lincoln Center at the famous recording of "Zee Zee" featuring Hannibal. My fave album with him was Frank Strozier's "Remember Me", where he was featured on even fast tunes playing tuba! I'll never forget the blend of Tuba and flute counterpoint on Frank's beautiful waltz, "Neicy". RIP...HOJO

[mikeweil]

5 hours ago, JSngry said:

RIP, and much love here.

Oh yes. Same here. Sad news. 

[Mark Stryker]

Howard Johnson for Miller Lite.

 

 

[GA Russell]

RIP.  Looking at his discography, I see that he was on an old favorite of mine, The Leon Thomas Album.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Johnson_(jazz_musician)