My NTS
Live now
1
14:00 - 15:00

Special guest shows from around the world.

2
14:00 - 16:00

Special guest shows from around the world.

Rudolph Johnson

Rudolph Johnson

Rudolph Johnson has been played on NTS over 10 times, featured on 15 episodes and was first played on 29 October 2013.

Rudolph Johnson hails from Columbus, Ohio. Many jazz music insiders considered "Rudy" Johnson the heir apparent to the John Coltrane legacy of improvisational dominance on the tenor and soprano saxophones. Ironically, Johnson was not recorded enough to make a wave in the music industry that would have established him as one of the important jazz saxophonists of his time.

His flawless execution results from a dedication to the music and the instrument rarely matched by any individual. Rudy Johnson is considered by many, the players player. His original traveling trio consisted of Chester Thompson on the Hammond Organ, Herschel Davis on drums and Rudolph playing the tenor and the soprano saxophones.

The mid sixties found Rudolph playing a stint at Jack's Of Sutter on Sutter and Fillmore streets in San Francisco, California. The early Sunday morning jam sessions which started promptly at 6 a.m. often became a battle of the saxes of sort when alto sax man Norman "The Bishop" Williams, would sit in and they would virtually blow the house apart.

Rudolph took me under his wing at which time I traveled with the group to San Francisco and witnessed first hand his rigorous practice routine which usually started at 5 or 6 in the morning with at least a full hour or two of transcendental meditation followed by carefully planned physical exercise, which was then followed by typically 8 to 10 hours of scales, arpeggios and many other saxophone and music studies and theories. His tone is awesome and his command of the instrument in all registers is phenomenal. His circular breathing technique allowed him to blow extremely long phrases seemingly without taking a breath. I feel very fortunate for having had the opportunity to hear this man play in person.

Harold "Stemsy" Hunter

read more

Rudolph Johnson

Rudolph Johnson has been played on NTS over 10 times, featured on 15 episodes and was first played on 29 October 2013.

Rudolph Johnson hails from Columbus, Ohio. Many jazz music insiders considered "Rudy" Johnson the heir apparent to the John Coltrane legacy of improvisational dominance on the tenor and soprano saxophones. Ironically, Johnson was not recorded enough to make a wave in the music industry that would have established him as one of the important jazz saxophonists of his time.

His flawless execution results from a dedication to the music and the instrument rarely matched by any individual. Rudy Johnson is considered by many, the players player. His original traveling trio consisted of Chester Thompson on the Hammond Organ, Herschel Davis on drums and Rudolph playing the tenor and the soprano saxophones.

The mid sixties found Rudolph playing a stint at Jack's Of Sutter on Sutter and Fillmore streets in San Francisco, California. The early Sunday morning jam sessions which started promptly at 6 a.m. often became a battle of the saxes of sort when alto sax man Norman "The Bishop" Williams, would sit in and they would virtually blow the house apart.

Rudolph took me under his wing at which time I traveled with the group to San Francisco and witnessed first hand his rigorous practice routine which usually started at 5 or 6 in the morning with at least a full hour or two of transcendental meditation followed by carefully planned physical exercise, which was then followed by typically 8 to 10 hours of scales, arpeggios and many other saxophone and music studies and theories. His tone is awesome and his command of the instrument in all registers is phenomenal. His circular breathing technique allowed him to blow extremely long phrases seemingly without taking a breath. I feel very fortunate for having had the opportunity to hear this man play in person.

Harold "Stemsy" Hunter

Original source Last.fm

Tracks featured on

Most played tracks

The Highest Pleasure
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1973
The Highest Pleasure
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records2002
The Highest Pleasure
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records, P-Vine Records2005
The Second Coming
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1973
Devon Jean
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1971
Diswa
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1971
Habiba
Kirk Lightsey, Rudolph Johnson, The All Stars (Peter Thwaites mix)
Gallo1974
Little Daphne
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1971
Sylvia Ann
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1971
The Highest Pleasure
Rudolph Johnson
Black Jazz Records1973