Described as “an intrepid composer, architect of sound and beast of the bass…” (Brad Cohan, NYC Jazz Record) composer, bassist, and improviser Max Johnson is one of the most prolific music makers in the jazz, bluegrass, and contemporary classical worlds. Johnson has released nearly 20 albums and performed over three thousand concerts internationally with artists like Anthony Braxton, Geri Allen, Mary Halvorson, David Grisman, Tyshawn Sorey, Ingrid Laubrock, Henry Grimes, Candido Camero, Sam Bush, Nels Cline, and many more. He has composed commissions for the Jerome Foundation, Society of Composers Inc, University of Glasgow, has been featured on over seventy albums, and can be heard in Spike Lee’s Academy Award winning film, “The BlacKkKlansman”. For this concert, Max Johnson presents his incredible new trio with Neta Raanan on tenor saxophone and Eliza Salem on drumset, exploring Johnson’s newest compositions inspired by the innovations of great jazz composers Charles Mingus, Mal Waldron, Steve Lacy, and Thelonious Monk.

“The deep, rattling sound that Max Johnson elicits from an upright bass is more than a calling card on the expressive new album by his working trio. – Nate Chinen, The New York Times

“one of the more versatile figures… a leader with a strong, woody tone” -Peter Margasak, The Chicago Reader

“Max Johnson is one of the most prolific and versatile musician/composers in music today” – Brad Cohan, New York City Jazz Record

“Johnson constantly displays his ability to maintain all of the rhythmic qualities needed in a trio setting but can switch gears to push the melody. Regardless of what is happening in the track, your ear will find its way back to the bass somehow.” – Phillip Coombs, Free Jazz Blog