Rich Johnson

While growing up in Duluth, MN I became inspired by the works of Don Cherry, Kenneth Gaburo, Bill Dixon, and Morton Feldman, and I started to see new possibilities in music. Currently, I compose and perform in three of my own groups: Up The Turret Mil (solo trumpet-electronics), Ignite a Noise Brass, and We Can Build You (electroacoustic trio), all of which possess their own distinct identity. I'm exploring a mix of trumpet, laptop glitch, sampling, and musique concrète.

Many of my pieces begin as experiments with electronic-acoustic treatments on the trumpet and a laptop running Ableton Live, manipulated with various alternate software controllers including iPhones and Wiimotes. My solo pieces have garnered positive reviews from a wide range of musicians and critics. Themilkfactory.co.uk said, “a vastly eclectic and thrilling collection… Johnson has created a pretty impressive and unique record and positioned himself alongside some of the most exciting contemporary jazz musicians around in the process.”

Along with my work with solo trumpet and electronics, I also contribute as a sideman to a number of projects including Opsvik & Jennings’ "A Dream I Used to Remember" (Loyal Label) and “Commuter Anthems” (Rune Grammofon). I also curate the Ignite a Noise music series at IBEAM Music in Brooklyn and co-curate the Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) with Dave Douglas and Taylor Ho Bynum at spaces throughout NYC.