Dewey Johnson

Dewey Bernard Johnson (November 6, 1939 – June 26, 2018) was an American free jazz trumpeter best known for his appearance on John Coltrane's historic recording Ascension.

Early life Johnson was born in Philadelphia, where he took lessons at the Granoff School of Music. In the early 1960s, he spent time in California, where he met and played with Byron Allen, Noah Howard, Sonny Simmons, and other musicians interested in free improvisation.

New York In 1963, Johnson moved to New York, where he played with Sun Ra and started a band with saxophonist Giuseppi Logan, bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Rashied Ali. and also joined pianist Paul Bley's group. The following year, he appeared on Bley's album Barrage. and repeatedly sat in with John Coltrane's band.

In the spring of 1967, Johnson played in the Rashied Ali Quintet, recordings of which were released more than fifty years later. Following Coltrane's death in July of that year, Johnson suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized. and began to support himself with various odd jobs. and played with Coltrane throughout the second half of that year. He can be heard on the album Offering: Live at Temple University, recorded in November, 1966.

Discography

With John Coltrane Ascension (Impulse!, recorded 1965, released 1966) The Best of John Coltrane: His Greatest Years, Vol. 2 (Impulse!, 1972 re-release of Ascension) The Major Works of John Coltrane (GRP Records, 1992 re-release of Ascension) The Impulse! Albums, Vol. 3 (Impulse!, 2009 re-release of Ascension)

With Paul Bley Barrage (ESP-Disk, recorded 1964, released 1965)

With Paul Murphy Red Snapper: Paul Murphy at CBS (CIMP, recorded 1982, released 2003) Cloudburst: Paul Murphy at RCA (Murphy Records, recorded and released 1983)

With Rashied Ali First Time Out: Live at Slugs 1967 (Survival Records, recorded 1967, released 2020)

Compilations Fire Music, Vol. 1: A High Energy Avant Garde Jazz Compilation (ESP-Disk, 2012 re-release of a track from Paul Bley's album Barrage)