An extraordinary set of solo double bass improvisations captured in the warm Booklyn Conveyor Recording Studio, Johnson showing his strength with his fingers on the large strings or a bow in his hand, in five turbulent and superb solos under reflection of personal struggles and the strain of pandemic, bringing a new sense of self and determination to his playing.
In Stock
Quantity in Basket: None
Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 2.00 units
Sample The Album:
Max Johnson-double bass, bow
Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.
UPC: 5904224871130
Label: Unbroken Sounds
Catalog ID: U02
Squidco Product Code: 32216
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Conveyor, by Jason Borisoff.
"Hermit Music is a collection of spontaneously composed pieces for the double bass and bow. From 2017-2019 I played a series of solo concerts in the US and Europe and wanted to capture the music I was creating at the time, so I planned to record in the Spring of 2020. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic began, my life had undergone some major changes and losses, but when New York shut down in March of 2020, I became deeply depressed and couldn't bear to play my instrument for months. While I watched musicians talk about how great it was to take time off, or how productive they were being, I struggled to get out of bed each day, and found it hard to put on my usual positive face. In many ways, the pandemic marked the ending of a very busy, productive, and happy time of my life.
The following two years have been a daily battle to resume being a positive productive human being, and this music represents the dark confusing place I have been living since. Recording this music was very difficult for me, and created a number of mental and emotional challenges I did not anticipate. What you hear on this record is a different bass player, improviser, and person than you would have heard two years prior, and this music symbolizes my struggle with self, reality, purpose, and mental health. This album represents who I am right now, and I am proud to share it with you."-Max Johnson, 2022
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Max Johnson "Max Johnson is a bassist, composer and bandleader based in New York City. Known for his big sound, eclectic style and prolific output, Johnson has made a name in both the jazz and improvised music world, playing with legendary luminaries Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, Muhal Richard Abrams, among others, in addition to becoming a first call bluegrass bassist, playing with legends Sam Bush, David Grisman, the Traveling McCourys & Tony Trischka. With 6 albums, and over fifteen hundred concerts under his belt, Johnson has proven to be an unparalleled force on the bass, and a unique, exhilarating voice as a composer. Growing up in Hoboken, New Jersey, Johnson learned about music at an early age from his father, Glenn Johnson, drummer/composer of the band Leisure Class. At age 13, Max took up the electric bass, and after performing with local bands in Montclair, NJ, he joined the School of Rock in 2004, where he had the incredible opportunity to tour internationally and perform with Jon Anderson, John Wetton, the Butthole Surfers, Adrian Belew, Vernon Reid, Andrew W.K., Ronnie Spector, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and a long list of others. Johnson then attended the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in 2008, where he studied bass with masters Henry Grimes, Mark Helias, Reggie Workman, Cameron Brown & Marji Danilow; and composition with Jane Ira Bloom, Tim Berne & Bill Kirchner. While studying there, he began performing professionally in New York City, building a name for himself as a bassist and bandleader in the improvised music world, and a first call bass player in the bluegrass scene. Johnson continued his education at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he recieved his Master's degree in classical composition under Jonathan Bailey Holland, John Mallia and Roger Zahab. Although young in age, Johnson has already crafted a unique sound and vision as an improviser, and is rich in experience, having performed with John Zorn, Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richard Abrams, Nels Cline, Candido Camero, Henry Grimes, William Parker, Butch Morris, Karl Berger, Bobby Sanabria, Sylvie Courvoisier, Erik Friedlander, Mary Halvorson, Joseph Jarman, Kenny Wollesen, Elliott Sharp, Angelica Sanchez, and many others. As a bassist with a non-stop touring schedule, Johnson has performed over one thousand concerts throughout North America and Europe, including top festivals and performing arts centers such as Lincoln Center, the United Nations, Lollapalooza, Quebec City Festival, Bern Jazz Festival, and many others. Max Johnson has been featured as a sideman on over twenty-five recordings, including the platinum-selling Night Castle by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. An active bandleader, Max Johnson has six records to his name: Elevated Vegetation (FMR), The Invisible Trio & Something Familiar (Fresh Sound-New Talent), featuring Kirk Knuffke on cornet & Ziv Ravitz on drums; The Prisoner (NoBusiness) featuring Ingrid Laubrock, Mat Maneri & Tomas Fujiwara; and Quartet (NotTwo), with Mark Whitecage on alto saxophone and clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. Big Eyed Rabbit, his collaborative trio with Ross Martin and Jeff Davis, also released their debut album in 2014, Big Eyed Rabbit (NotTwo). His albums have been positively reviewed in the New York Times, NYC Jazz Record, JazzTimes, and other publications. El Intruso International Critic's Poll voted Max Johnson #1 Newcomer Musician in the 2012, and #2 Bassist and #4 Musician of the year in their 2014 poll." ^ Hide Bio for Max Johnson
4/17/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Hermit Music 6:54
2. Ghost Whistle 9:34
3. Haystacks 8:23
4. Glass Lungs 7:03
5. Woodmere (for Ed Maday) 7:45
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Stringed Instruments
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers
Friends of Squid
Search for other titles on the label:
Unbroken Sounds.
| Johnson, Max Hermit Music (Unbroken Sounds) |
| An extraordinary set of solo double bass improvisations captured in the warm Booklyn Conveyor Recording Studio, Johnson showing his strength with his fingers on the large strings or a bow in his hand, in five turbulent and superb solos under reflection of personal struggles and the strain of pandemic, bringing a new sense of self and determination to his playing. | |
 | Johnson, Russ / Tim Daisy / Max Johnson Live at the Hungry Brain (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) |
| A patiently evolving collective performance at Chicago's Hungry Brain from the trio of New Yorkers--trumpeter Russ Johnson and bassist Max Johnson--and Chicago drummer Tim Daisy, whose arsenal of percussive devices adds unexpected asides to the trio's confident free jazz explorations, Johnson adding lyrical lines as the band moves as one through two extended improvisations. | |
 | Nabatov, Simon Extensions (Unbroken Sounds) |
| Based in Cologne but including improvisers from Europe, Australia and South America, pianist Simon Nabatov extends his quartet concept into a sextet (hence the title), allowing greater flexibility in the band's collective free improvisations with influences of chamber jazz, as heard in two sophisticated improvisations capture live in 2022 at Salon de Jazz, in Cologne, Germany. | |
 | Mirarchi, David Ink Folly, Orchid Gleam (Unbroken Sounds) |
| Composer, poet and saxophonist David Mirarchi seeks to transform the written word into melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, and structural materials, using experimental compositional techniques, here recording in Brooklyn with trio of bassist Mathias Hojgaard Jensen and drummer Eliza Salem for a two part work transmuted from a two-part poem contrasting city life and nature. | |
 | Golia, Vinny / Max Johnson / Weasel Walter No Refunds (Unbroken Sounds) |
| Recording in Brooklyn's Seaside Lounge in 2014, these five previously unreleased collective improvisations bring together West Coast reedist Vinny Golia, performing on clarinet, saxello, sopranino, baritone saxophones with double bassist Max Johnson and drummer Weasel Walter, an absolutely impressive example of free playing intent and well-balanced conversation. | |
 | Johnson, Max When the Streets Were Quiet (New Focus Recordings) |
| Better known for his bass work with his own free jazz trio and quartet, or as a sideman for Simon Nabatov, Chris Pitsiokis, &c. this album reveals another facet to the musician, presenting a chamber music album of strings, reeds and piano, where his role as composer and conductor brings life to works with references to Messiaen & Kafka. | |
 | Johnson, Max Trio (w/ Anna Webber / Michael Sarin) Orbit Of Sound (Unbroken Sounds) |
| A new trio from NY bassist Max Johnson with Anna Webber on tenor saxophone & flute and Michael Sarin on drums, performing five lyrically inclined yet inventive compositions from Johnson, allowing distinction for each performer as they bridge sections between fluid straight-ahead playing and spaciously singular experimentation, keeping player and listener on their toes. | |
 | Berthling, Johan Bjornhorn (thanatosis produktion) |
| An extended 7-part solo improvisation from Swedish double bassist Johan Berthling (Angles, Fire!, Nacka Forum, Sten Sandell Trio, &c) using magnificent technique, timing and pacing in a diverse set that includes a reference to Charlie Hayden's "Turiya". | |
 | Leandre, Joelle At Souillac en Jazz (Ayler Records) |
| An extraordinary solo double bass set recorded at Saint-Jacques church of Cales, Lot, France in 2021 as part of the Souillac en Jazz festival from Joëlle Léandre, reaching into the depths for an incomparable and intensely concentrated display of technical skill and passion on the deep strings; captivating, visceral and cathartic. | |
 | Giuffre, Jimmy (w / Bley / Swallow) Free Fall Clarinet 1962, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd) |
| Reissuing clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre's 1963 Columbia album Free Fall, presenting trio performances with bassist Steve Swallow and pianist Paul Bley recorded after their 1961 European tour, along with duos between Giuffre and Swallow and several solo tracks from the clarinetist himself, propelling himself and his band into his sophisticated, risk-taking chamber jazz compositions. | |
 | Ali, Sean A Blink in the Sun (Neither/Nor Records) |
| NY double bassist Sean Ali presents an engrossing journey in seven pieces that depict an inner journey through tone, technique and words, using the double bass to create deep sonic environments through interactively playing and layering, using extended approaches that support and contrast his narration; a compelling and descriptive observation on the nature of self. | |
 | Smith, Damon Winter Solos for Robert Ryman [CASSETTE] (Balance Point Acoustics) |
| Reflecting on the passing of artist and musician Robert Ryman, double bassist Damon Smith dedicated this concert of outstanding playing, technique and momentum at Cafe Fixe in Brookline, MA to Ryman, as Smith sought to present a definitive solo concert as an overview of his own work, ably realizing Ryman's concept of finding all the things you can do with your instrument. | |
 | Ali, Sean My Tongue Crumbles After (Neither/Nor Records) |
| New York bassist Sean Ali demonstrates his astonishing bass technique and creative momentum in a solo album, accompanied at times by collages assembled from field and voice recordings, creating unusual sonic backdrops against which his powerful playing, preparations, bowing and other extended techniques reveal an optimistic and unusual creative intent. | |
 | Vazquez, Pablo Solo 1 (Seres Imaginarios) (Creative Sources) |
| Buenos Aires double bassist Pablo Vazquez presents nine solo improvisations using an impressive and diverse set of approaches to the instrument, utilizing every inch of the bass to evoke the supernatural beings of Argentine popular culture, in an imaginative approach to sonic narrative that demonstrates powerful control and masterful technique. | |
 | Johnson, Max In The West (Clean Feed) |
| New York bassist Max Johnson expands his piano trio of Kris Davis on piano and Mike Pride on drums with Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar, adding an eclectic Western flavor to overall on-point, anchored and driven modern jazz of a high order, balancing lyrical playing with moments of free collective playing, in a beautiful and extraordinary album. | |
 | Lerman, Ayelet 7 Steps (Creative Sources) |
| Violist, performance, installation and sound artist Ayelet Lerman presents a meditative voyage through silence on solo viola, a sinuous and fascinating journey pairing melody and unusual harmonic strategies, with Kadima label leader Jean Claude Jones joining on double bass, one of the last sessions that he played on that instrument. | |
 | Ughi, Federico Quartet (Ughi / Schug / Knuffke / Johnson) Federico Ughi Quartet (FMR) |
| Following Ornette Coleman's 2 horn, bass & drum lineup, Italian/NY drummer Federico Ughi leads his quartet with David Schung (sax), Kirk Knuffke (cornet) & Max Johnson (bass) through 10 Coleman-inspired works of melodic free playing, excellent works of modern jazz. | |
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
 | Granberg, Magnus Evening Star, Vesper Bell (Another Timbre) |
| Written for and performed by the UK ensemble Apartment House, composer & performer Magnus Granberg's latest work reduces his working size from the larger Skogen ensemble to this sextet, opening new possibilities for composed structures that incorporate improvisation, in a work structured around components from Schubert's Abendbilder and So in Love by Cole Porter. | |
 | Democ, Adrian Neha (Another Timbre) |
| Neha, the Slovakian word for tenderness, is expressed by composer Adrián Demoč in this lovely and gentle work performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; and "Popínavá hudba", written for the international symphony orchestra for new music, Ostrava New Orchestra, referencing the growth of climbing plants through an alluring melodic line that shifts and spreads in direction. | |
 | Levin, Ike Trio (feat Shao-Way Wu / Tim DuRoche) ReEmergence (Self Released) |
| A set of original compositions from Portland saxophonist, bass clarinetist and composer Ike Levin, a frequent collaborator of pianist Joel Futterman, here with his trio of Shao-Way Wu on contrabass and Tim DuRoche on drums & percussions, performing eight pieces of structurally interesting forms yielding passionate playing, from free jazz energy to lyrical introspection. | |
 | Fields, Scott Ensemble Sand (Relative Pitch) |
| Scott Field's 9-part Sands for 20 instrumentalists, three singers, and a conductor, in this case Fields himself, employs a modular performance system that integrates composition and improvisation, the conductor selecting modules from melodies, phasing patterns, long tones, improv elements, fragmented short stories, &c., spontaneously assigned live; a fascinating accomplishment. | |
 | Bogacz, Santiago / Emiliano Aires Retrato Anos Despues (Relative Pitch) |
| With nine years of work together, the Uruguayan duo of guitarist Santiago Bogacz, aka Matador, and clarinetist Emiliano Aires have developed a near-telepathic dialog of sharp-edged interactions through technically rapid exchanges and plateaus of anxious reserve; exhilarating work heard here in 9 vehement and creatively urgent improvisations. | |
 | Douglas, Dave and Elan Mehler If There Are Mountains (Greenleaf Music) |
| Originally released as an LP on the French Newvelle Records label co-founded by pianist Elan Mehler, here reissued with four additional recordings of beautifully lyrical jazz pivoting around Japanese haiku's, from the sextet led by Mehler and NY trumpeter Dave Douglas with vocalist Dominique Eade, reedist John Gunther, bassist Simon Willson, and drummer Dayeon Seok. | |
 | Lerner, Marilyn / Nicole Rampersaud Brass Knuckle Sandwich (Ambiances Magnetiques) |
| An assertive duo of piano and trumpet from Canadian improvisers Marilyn Lerner playing inside and out of the piano, and trumpeter Nicole Rampersaud performing with powerful and unusually expressive technique, this the first meeting between the two in a set of seven studio recordings, creative interactions of wide-ranging and cohesive approaches to their dialogs. | |
 | Yamamoto, Eri Trio ( w/ Ambrosio / Takeuchi) A Woman With A Purple Wig (Mahakala Music) |
| Confronted and assaulted by Asian bigotry in NYC shortly after the start of the pandemic, pianist Eri Yamamoto adopted a wig, mask and sunglasses to hide her ethnicity, about which she sings in the title track of her album, a mix of the sophisticated jazz instrumentals with bassist David Ambrosio and drummer Ikuo Takeuchi punctuated with songs of Yamamoto's pandemic experience. | |
 | Buechi / Hellmuller / Jerjen Moon Trail (Intakt) |
| Swiss vocalist Sarah Buechi leads a new trio with Franz Hellmüller on guitar and Rafael Jerjen on bass, putting a uniquely expressive touch to a mix of original Buechi songs, standards including "I Thought About You" and "Moon River", and traditional song, the intimate and adept playing of Hellmüller and Jerjen enveloping the trio with a warm glow. | |
