Rudolph Johnson

Tenor saxophonist Rudolph Johnson was a heady and deeply focused improviser, recognized for his huge tone and long architectural phrases in the <a href="spotify:artist:2hGh5VOeeqimQFxqXvfCUf">John Coltrane</a> tradition. A member of organist <a href="spotify:artist:1A0QR12gcj2L5hYh1WWDeh">Jimmy McGriff</a>'s hard-swinging group of the early 1960s, Johnson came into his own in the '70s, releasing a two albums on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Black+Jazz+Records%22">Black Jazz Records</a> label, including 1972's Spring Rain, before spending the latter part of his career as a member of <a href="spotify:artist:1eYhYunlNJlDoQhtYBvPsi">Ray Charles</a>' orchestra.

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Johnson started playing saxophone in junior high. There, he cultivated a love of jazz, playing alongside two of his classmates, saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:06O4cRjKTmqrS5l7evO2kc">Gene Walker</a> and pianist <a href="spotify:artist:46A82OhB6mKuQAWsA29x1H">Bobby Pierce</a>. After high school, he moved east, where he joined organist <a href="spotify:artist:1A0QR12gcj2L5hYh1WWDeh">Jimmy McGriff</a>'s band, touring and appearing on albums like At the Apollo and Jimmy McGriff at the Organ.

By the mid-'60s, Johnson had relocated to the West Coast, where he spent time leading a trio and playing in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1972, he made his debut as leader on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Black+Jazz+Records%22">Black Jazz Records</a> label with Spring Rain. A funky, modal-leaning production, it featured his quartet with well-regarded jazz and R&B pros, pianist <a href="spotify:artist:22XeiWx6GAYnTkAcsFFrBy">John Barnes</a>, bassist Reggie Johnson, and drummer Ray Pounds. He released two more albums during this period with 1974's Second Coming and Habiba, the latter of which was a collaboration with pianist <a href="spotify:artist:20XugxiKfBdgSLOdn7RX8y">Kirk Lightsey</a>. Over the next 20 years, Johnson continued to lead his own groups but stayed primarily active touring as a member of <a href="spotify:artist:1eYhYunlNJlDoQhtYBvPsi">Ray Charles</a>' big band. He died in 2007 in California from complications of a diabetes-related illness. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi