Aaron Johnson Jazz Quartet to Perform at Fogartyville in Sarasota
Aaron M. Johnson is a Saxophonist, Clarinetist and Flutist based in New York City possessing a wild musical imagination, fearless heart, and probing improvisational intellect. Johnson will bring his Jazz Quartet to Fogartyville featuring Sacha Perry on piano, Kyle Colina on bass, and John Lumpkin on drums. Pianist Sacha Perry is widely known among musicians in New York as one of the brightest pianists on the scene. He studied with Barry Harris and quickly excelled in ability at the most difficult and subtle harmonies. The Quartet will take the stage at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Saturday, August 14th at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 for WSLR+Fogartyville members and $25 for the general public. Half-priced student tickets are also available. Advance tickets are available at the website.
In addition to leading his own group in nearly every New York jazz establishment, from Smalls to Jazz at Lincoln Center, he has worked with notable jazz musicians such as Jon Batiste, Dick Hyman, Chuck Israels, Ken Peplowski, Connie Crothers, Slide Hampton, John Colianni, Ed Palermo, Pete Barbutti, Joey “G Clef” Cavaseno, Jon-Erik Kellso, Dwayne Clemons, Sacha Perry and many more.
As a commercial/classical/woodwind musician, Aaron has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, played in the house band for Bill Irwin’s Old Hats, toured with 2009 American Idol Winner Lee DeWyze and is a member of the Siletz Bay Festival Orchestra (Oregon) in addition to freelancing with many local/regional symphonies/chamber ensembles in the New York Metro Area. Currently playing lead alto with the John Colianni jazz orchestra, Aaron is also a member of the Ken Peplowski big band and leads his own groups and projects nationally as well as abroad.
In addition to his performing, Aaron Johnson is an in-demand scholar and lecturer of Jazz history. He has presented and spoken many times at Jazz at Lincoln Center, conducting pre-concert lectures, moderating panels and presenting listening party lectures. Other schools Aaron has presented at include NYU and the College of William & Mary.
Aaron Johnson Testimonials
“Aaron Johnson is brilliant. Period. He is brilliant in his playing, in his speech, in his ideas and totally unrelenting in his pursuit of his love of jazz and the saxophone. It is really quite refreshing to see someone as talented and intrepid as Aaron. A true virtuoso!”
– Jimmy Halperin April 14th 2015 (Master Improviser, Saxophonist and Composer. Internationally renowned soloist, recording artist and student of Sal Mosca and Lennie Tristano)
“Among the reed players there’s Aaron Johnson, a kind of protégé of mine. He covers a lot of territory. He can play traditional jazz and more contemporary jazz. He’s got a real interest in West Coast jazz, which for a young player is a real head-turner” -Ken Peplowski (Legendary Clarinetist), winter 2019 edition of “Sounds” magazine (published by the Jazz Club of Sarasota)
Photo from Fogartyville