John R. Johnson

John R. Johnson

John Johnson is the great, great grandson of a Cherokee woman, Susan Maywas and a member of the Appalachian American Indians of West Virginia. This is an unfolding legacy, an education and appreciation of what once was and is still today, away of life and seeing, feeling and living. John grew up in Ohio. He played wooden flutes in the caves and woods of southern Ohio near the Ohio River. His audience and teachers were the animals that came out and sat with him listening and talking. He would play a little and the birds would chatter and sing. It was a conversation.

Making the flutes…

Thirty years later, he went into a hardware store intending to purchase screws for his ailing front door and was inspired to begin making flutes out of PVC pipe. Placing the holes here and there, interested to hear the different sound relations to form a scale that would be pleasing to the ear, he wasted a lot of pipe. It was cheap way to experiment with sounds and he ended up with several unique sounding flutes. When he was in his late 30's, his good friend encouraged him to play his flute to the people.

The Cherokee used the flutes in mediation. The western Native American people use them for courting and honoring ceremonies. John's music is influenced by everything going on around him. This album, Ears to the Earth, is improvisation, a conversation between the wood flutes (the spirit), the wind (the bass), the heart beat, (the drum), and piano, (the water). John's music was recently termed EARTH JAZZ by a listener.

You may preview all the tracks on this album at CD Baby!

John Johnson, Greg Burgess, Steve Mitchell, and Andy Seal have collaborated to create audio landscapes reflecting the world around them. All the tracks on this album, except Amazing Grace, were created at the time of this recording. John chose his flute and described the mood. As the artists played, the compositions developed and grew like the elements of nature do to create a particular landscape.

Ears to the Earth... Wind, Water, Rock, and Fire... Earth Jazz

1. Sunsicles

This piece just happened. Greg titled this song Sunsicles. Moving through the woods on a cool morning with snow scattered on the ground and the early morning crystal sun rays through the trees - Sunsicles.

2. Ears to the Earth

My instructions here were to imagine walking through the woods. The flute is the spirit, the bass is the wind, the piano is the water, and the drum is the heartbeat.

3. Water Skaters

Watch the water bugs on a warm summers day and think of this song.

4. Dance of the Pines

As a former stage manager the Karamu Modern Dance Company in Cleveland Ohio, when I close my eyes and listen to this piece I think of modern dance moves. Sometimes I think of the same dance moves as I watch the wind in the pines on the Isle of Que in Pennsylvania.

5. Demon's Den (Otzinachson)

This is a blues number. We liked the sound of the word "otzinachson." It means Demon's Den

6. Fire Flicker

In midsummer my back yard is filled with the flickering lights of the fireflies.

It seem to fit.

7. Amazing Grace

Our interpretation to a fine song

This album is available for sale at CDBaby.com

Contact John Johnson about upcoming performances and CD's


	John R. Johnson John Johnson is the great, great grandson of a Cherokee woman, Susan Maywas and a member of the Appalachian American Indians of West Virginia. This is an unfolding legacy, an education and appreciation of what once was and is still today, away of life and seeing, feeling and living. John grew up in Ohio. He played wooden flutes in the caves and woods of southern Ohio near the Ohio River. His audience and teachers were the animals that came out and sat with him listening and talking. He would play a little and the birds would chatter and sing. It was a conversation. Making the flutes… Thirty years later, he went into a hardware store intending to purchase screws for his ailing front door and was inspired to begin making flutes out of PVC pipe. Placing the holes here and there, interested to hear the different sound relations to form a scale that would be pleasing to the ear, he wasted a lot of pipe. It was cheap way to experiment with sounds and he ended up with several unique sounding flutes. When he was in his late 30's, his good friend encouraged him to play his flute to the people. The Cherokee used the flutes in mediation. The western Native American people use them for courting and honoring ceremonies. John's music is influenced by everything going on around him. This album, Ears to the Earth, is improvisation, a conversation between the wood flutes (the spirit), the wind (the bass), the heart beat, (the drum), and piano, (the water). John's music was recently termed EARTH JAZZ by a listener. You may preview all the tracks on this album at CD Baby! John Johnson, Greg Burgess, Steve Mitchell, and Andy Seal have collaborated to create audio landscapes reflecting the world around them. All the tracks on this album, except Amazing Grace, were created at the time of this recording. John chose his flute and described the mood. As the artists played, the compositions developed and grew like the elements of nature do to create a particular landscape. Ears to the Earth... Wind, Water, Rock, and Fire... Earth Jazz 1. Sunsicles This piece just happened. Greg titled this song Sunsicles. Moving through the woods on a cool morning with snow scattered on the ground and the early morning crystal sun rays through the trees - Sunsicles. 2. Ears to the Earth My instructions here were to imagine walking through the woods. The flute is the spirit, the bass is the wind, the piano is the water, and the drum is the heartbeat. 3. Water Skaters Watch the water bugs on a warm summers day and think of this song. 4. Dance of the Pines As a former stage manager the Karamu Modern Dance Company in Cleveland Ohio, when I close my eyes and listen to this piece I think of modern dance moves. Sometimes I think of the same dance moves as I watch the wind in the pines on the Isle of Que in Pennsylvania. 5. Demon's Den (Otzinachson) This is a blues number. We liked the sound of the word "otzinachson." It means Demon's Den 6. Fire Flicker In midsummer my back yard is filled with the flickering lights of the fireflies. It seem to fit. 7. Amazing Grace Our interpretation to a fine song This album is available for sale at CDBaby.com Contact John Johnson about upcoming performances and CD's