From recent gigs/performances... ENJOY!

Featured with the Paradise Jazz Big Band, under the direction of trumpeter/bandleader/writer and arranger/producer @KrisJohnsonMusic

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A very special concert at Orchestra Hall in Detroit, MI, featuring Terence Blanchard, Lulu Fall, and, Kurt Elling!

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You Are Too Beautiful, Rogers & Hart, arr. Michael Abene

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4/30/2022



This composition was originally performed in quintet format for 𝘼 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙖𝙯𝙯 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 in 2018 with the San Diego Ballet. Kris Johnson has once again used his masterful arranging gifts to create a compelling version of this piece for large ensemble. My sincere appreciation to all of the talented musicians who participated in this recording. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱 Soloists: Sasha Berliner - vibraphone, Kris Johnson - fluegelhorn, Ian Fink - piano Woodwinds: Caleb Curtis, Sunhyun Yoo - alto saxophones Lucia Sarmiento, David Halliday - tenor saxophones Kaleigh Wilder - baritone saxophone Brass: Kris Johnson - fluegelhorn Omar Butler, Aaron Janik, Evan Taylor, Solomon Parham - trumpets Corey Wallace, Melissa Gardiner, Mark Williams, Khristian Foreman - trombones Rhythm: Sasha Berliner - vibraphone Ian Fink - piano Ben Rolston - bass Nate Winn - drums Produced by Kamau Kenyatta and Kris Johnson Filmed by individual musicians Video edited by Kris Johnson Mixed by Kris Johnson, Kamau Kenyatta and Darell "Red" Campbell


An all-time favorite and Christmas classic that’s as much a part of the holiday as family, friends, the tree, the ornaments, the mistletoe (hello!), giving, and your favorite aunt’s fruit cake that goes untouched!

Many of us are struggling to find the holiday spirit this year...hopefully we can help with that!

We hope you enjoy our rendition of Donny Hathaway’s This Christmas.

Corey A. Wallace/trombone

Brent Birckhead/saxophone

Flavio Silva/guitar

Barry Stephenson/electric bass

Curtis Nowosad/drums





Happy Holidays from the Kris Johnson Big Band!

Enjoy our rendition of Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride".


“Destiny”, composed by Kamau Kenyatta, as arranged by Kris Johnson and played by The Kris Johnson Big Band


“Watching and Waiting”, composed by Kamau Kenyatta, arranged by Kris Johnson. played by the Kris Johnson Big Band


“Peter Kobia” composed by Kamau Kenyatta, arranged by Kris Johnson, played by the Kris Johnson Big Band


Cissy Strut by The Meters (Neville/Modeliste/Nocentelli/Porter, arr. Silva)

Flávio Silva - guitar

Curtis Nowosad - drums, woodblock, shaker & djembe

Brent Birckhead - alto saxophone & bass clarinet

Corey Wallace - trombone & bass trombone

Barry Stephenson - bass

Video edited by Flávio Silva

Audio mixed by Curtis Nowosad


The Kris Johnson Big Band returns featuring special guests Sean Jones, Derrick Gardner, and Melvin Jones!!! "The Blues Walk" is a classic Clifford Brown blues that I took some significant liberties with, haha. This is 12 tone music y'all and the band DELIVERED on this very challenging arrangement. So honored to be in the presence of EVERYONE on this video, especially my big bros in the trumpet section who have inspired me time and time again with their artistry.

*************** buy the sheet music here: https://www.krisjohnsonmusic.com/shee... ***************

Appreciate you all! The Kris Johnson Big Band featuring Sean Jones, Derrick Gardner, Melvin Jones, and Kris Johnson "The Blues Walk" composed by Clifford Brown arranged by Kris Johnson

Saxes: Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Shawn Wallace, Lance Bryant, Matt Lima, Jason Marshall

Trumpets: Kris Johnson, Sean Jones, Derrick Gardner, Melvin Jones

Trombones: Corey A. Wallace Melissa Gardiner Mark Williams Khristian T. Foreman

Piano: Ian Finkelstein Guitar: Sasha Kashperko Bass: Jonathon Muir-Cotton Drums: Nate Winn

Audio and video mixed and edited by Kris Johnson Audio mastered by Darell Red Campbell Jr.

#bam #krisjohnsonmusic #krisjohnsonbigband #seanjones #derrickgardner #melvinjones #trumpet #trumpetfeature #jazztrumpet #arranger #cliffordbrown #dopemusic #detroitmusicians


Jazz Up Close Series

Brent Birckhead’s original, Jodeci

Brent Birckhead/alto sax

Corey Wallace/trombone and efx

Noah Baerman/keyboard

Henry Lugo/bass

Curtis Nowosad/drums

Joshua Kwassman/audio+visual

This event, part of Resonant Motion's 2020 Jazz Up Close series, was presented with the support of the Middletown Commission on the Arts, the Friends of the Russell Library, and Resonant Motion’s donors.


. . I was recently featured in the 2020 Jazz Up Close Series, along with two other great musicians, Brent Birckhead and Curtis Nowosad. We joined the phenomenal pianist Noah Baerman and bassist Henry Lugo to record some of our original music.

The audio/visual EP aired a few weeks ago and was accompanied by a talkback with all of the musicians from the project. Portions of that will also be posted!

Presented to you is an original of mine, Promises Kept By Those Who Seek the Truth.

Corey Wallace/trombone (solo)

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone

Noah Baerman/piano (solo)

Henry Lugo/bass

Curtis Nowosad/drums

This event, part of Resonant Motion's 2020 Jazz Up Close series, was presented with the support of the Middletown Commission on the Arts, the Friends of the Russell Library, and Resonant Motion’s donors.

Joshua Kwassman/Audio+Visual @iwritemusic


Performing with Farrah Boule at HighBreedMusic in 2017. I don't own the rights to the music, nor the video. Just posting a short portion to display my contributions to the song and performance!


“I Understand/45-31-16”

I was inspired to create sound to accompany a recent powerful moment within the Black community that went viral.

Caroline Davis and Marta Sanchez (creators of Art is Live - www.artislive.net) afforded me the opportunity to share my experiences, thoughts, and music from this very intriguing time our lives: through the pandemic, and in the current state of america as a Black american.

As my visions have both wavered and crystallized, I’ve felt everything from conflicted to inspired, but I’ve felt compelled to create and in a different way than I’m used to, BUT in ways I’ve long since wanted to explore. I’m very fortunate for this platform, giving me a place to present to you new works and a personal musical perspective.

Visit www.artislive.net for more the whole talkback and other concerts.


“Progress, Or Lack Thereof”

This portion of the series of exploration revisits one of Malcolm X’s most recognizable interviews and quotes where he speaks on the state of affairs in America as it relates to Black americans in the early 1960s.

In the video, I speak about techniques used and an overview of the different sections of the piece.

Caroline Davis and Marta Sanchez (creators of Art is Live - www.artislive.net) afforded me the opportunity to share my experiences, thoughts, and music from this very intriguing time our lives: through the pandemic, and in the current state of america as a Black american.

As my visions have both wavered and crystallized, I’ve felt everything from conflicted to inspired, but I’ve felt compelled to create and in a different way than I’m used to, BUT in ways I’ve long since wanted to explore.

I’m very fortunate for this platform, giving me a place to present to you new works and a personal musical perspective.

Visit www.artislive.net for more the whole talkback and other concerts.


The Kris Johnson Big Band playing Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” featuring Lulu Fall

Please view more of the KJBB on Kris Johnson’s Vimeo page!


“Rosetta” with The Mike Sailors Quarantine Big Band, featuring Rick McRae and Rob Edwards


Performing with Grammy Award winning artist Lauryn Hill on the Charlie Rose Show (October 2016).


The Jazz Exchange Virtual Big Band - Breath Away, composition by Willerm Delisfort, arr. by Charlie Dougherty


The Jazz Exchange Virtual Big Band - The Stakeout


A new original composition performed by the DUBtet at Clement’s Place in Newark, NJ, March 5, 2020

Corey Wallace/trombone

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone

Jonathan Edward Thomas/piano

Jonathan Michel/bass

Russell Carter/drums


An original composition performed by the DUBtet at Smalls Jazz Club in NYC, February 28, 2020.

Corey Wallace/trombone

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone

ArcoIris Sandoval/piano

Jonathan Michel/bass

Darrian Douglas/drums


On Brent Birckhead's "4 and 6" from his album release show at Ginny's Supper Club in Harlem, August 23, 2019

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone
Corey Wallace/trombone
Willerm Delisfort/piano
Endea Owens/bass
Jon Davis/drums


One of my oldest compositions getting a renewed vibe and a fresh dose of creativity!

Corey Wallace/trombone

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone

George Burton/piano

Barry Stephenson/bass

Henry Conerway III/drums


From a recent DUBtet performance (Sept 2019), where we began to stretch the bounds of one of my original compositions and featured a favorite regular in the band, Mr. Henry Conerway III.

Corey Wallace/trombone

Brent Birckhead/alto saxophone

George Burton/piano

Barry Stephenson/bass

Henry Conerway III/drums.


• R E A L • L O V E • . Original composition by Brandon Woody Performed at An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD Feb 5, 2019


• WE, OTA BENGA • . Original composition by Brandon Woody Performed at An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD Feb 5, 2019


“The Re-Collective Orchestra presents a re-imagination of Black Panther's title track, "All The Stars" with an original orchestration by Matt Jones. Inspired by the iconic black superhero, Matt Jones (Composer/Conductor, Founder of the Matt Jones Orchestra) and Stephanie Matthews (Violinist and Founder of StringCandy) joined forces to bring together a collective of musicians that would create a sonically and visually powerful statement: WE ARE HERE.”

Orchestration/Conductor
Matt Jones

March 6, 2018


Joe Henderson’s composition, a DUBtet favorite for it’s unbridled and unapologetic Blackness. This recording is from a Smalls Jazz Club date, March 23, 2018.

Corey Wallace/trombone

Willerm Delisfort/piano

Jonathan Michel/bass

Henry Conerway III/drums