Matt Johnson (keyboardist)
- Funk
- acid jazz
- pop
- Musician
- songwriter
Matt Johnson (born 3 February 1969) is a British keyboardist who plays for the funk and jazz band Jamiroquai.
Biography
Johnson was aged one and a half when he started playing the piano at his family home. "My dad was a musician, so there was always music playing in the house; but I remember being taught by a scary old piano teacher, who must have been over 90 years old". His influences range from Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis through to Squarepusher.[1]
Before playing in Jamiroquai, Johnson was a writer and performer for bands Sunray—with whom Kym Mazelle recorded a cover of "Perhaps"—and Nu Hope. He has also written and produced songs for artists such as Alexia, who had a minor hit with "Ring".
His route into Jamiroquai was via an audition in 2002. He was recommended by Simon Katz, a previous Jamiroquai guitarist, and Derrick gave him the call. The audition was a success, and Matt became a songwriter and member of Jamiroquai.
He joined Jamiroquai on 2 May 2002, replacing the founding member Toby Smith as keyboardist.
Johnson has also had a stint as the chief songwriting partner and producer—along with a Jamiroquai bandmate, guitarist Rob Harris—for singer-songwriter Julian Perretta, helping him create his debut album, Stitch Me Up, which was released in 2010.[2]
Johnson produced and co-wrote songs for the group's 2017 album, Automaton, with bandmate Jay Kay.[3] He also produced Jon Regen's 2019 album Higher Ground.[4] In July 2020, he released three singles—"With The Music", “ZOOM”, and “Sunshine”—to promote his new album, With the Music, which was released on 18 July 2020 in Japan, followed by a worldwide release two days later.[5]
Sound on Sound magazine website described Johnson as "one of the most talented and prolific keyboard players of the last 20 years" in April 2022.[6]
Discography
- Dynamite (2005)
- Rock Dust Light Star (2010)
- Automaton (2017)
Personal life
Johnson married Tanya Burke on 18 July 2006.[7]
References
- ^ "Matt Johnson (Keyboardist)". www.traxsource.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- ^ "Julian Perretta | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "Jamiroquai Automaton". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Graff, Gary (4 October 2019). "New Music: Jon Regen, Wilco, Avett Brothers, Brantley Gilbert and more..." The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "With the Music". YouTube.
- ^ Puricelli, Rob (April 2022). "Matt Johnson - Jamiroquai". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Jamiroquai | News | Congratulations to Matt Johnson - 21 July 2006, 06:26 (BST)". funkin.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- v
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- Jay Kay
- Derrick McKenzie
- Sola Akingbola
- Rob Harris
- Paul Turner
- Matt Johnson
- Nate Williams
- Howard Whiddett
- Emergency on Planet Earth (1993)
- The Return of the Space Cowboy (1994)
- Travelling Without Moving (1996)
- Synkronized (1999)
- A Funk Odyssey (2001)
- Dynamite (2005)
- Rock Dust Light Star (2010)
- Automaton (2017)
- Jay's Selection (1996)
- In Store Jam (1997)
- 1999 Remixes (1999)
- An Online Odyssey (2001)
- Late Night Tales (2003)
- Multiquai (2006)
- High Times (2006)
- "When You Gonna Learn"
- "Too Young to Die"
- "Blow Your Mind"
- "Emergency on Planet Earth"
- "The Kids"
- "Space Cowboy"
- "Half the Man"
- "Light Years"
- "Stillness in Time"
- "Do U Know Where You're Coming From"
- "Virtual Insanity"
- "Cosmic Girl"
- "Alright"
- "High Times"
- "Deeper Underground"
- "Canned Heat"
- "Supersonic"
- "King for a Day"
- "Black Capricorn Day"
- "I'm in the Mood for Love" (with Jools Holland)
- "Little L"
- "You Give Me Something"
- "Love Foolosophy"
- "Corner of the Earth"
- "Hollywood Swinging" (with Kool & the Gang)
- "Feels Just Like It Should"
- "Seven Days in Sunny June"
- "(Don't) Give Hate a Chance"
- "Runaway"
- "White Knuckle Ride"
- "Blue Skies"
- "Lifeline"
- "Automaton"
- "Cloud 9"
- Live in Verona
- Live at Montreux 2003
- High Times: Singles 1992–2006
- Discography
- Gig in the Sky
- Radio Silence
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