Kris Johnson

Kris Johnson is an award-winning trumpeter, composer, and educator. He has appeared on an impressive list of albums including five Grammy-nominated releases. The most recent is the Grammy-Nominated Concord Jazz album “All About That Basie” from the Count Basie Orchestra that features three of Kris’s arrangements for big band. Kris toured the world as a trumpeter and arranger with the Count Basie Orchestra from 2008-2019 and in 2013 he was featured in the standup-comedy film “Make Me Wanna Holla” starring Sinbad. 
 In 2012, Kris received an ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers award and was selected as one of 25 Detroit performing and literary artists to receive a $25,000 Kresge Artist Fellowship. 
 Mr. Johnson has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious jazz venues including the Apollo Theater, the Blue Note Jazz Club (US and Japan), Sydney Opera House, Blues Alley, and the Hollywood Bowl. He has also had the opportunity to perform with many jazz greats including Tony Bennett, Patti Austin, Wess Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Monty Alexander, Christian McBride, Jamie Cullum, and many others. 
 Drawing from jazz, classical, hip-hop, and neo-soul, Kris’s writing creates diverse textures that represent his unique musical identity. Johnson has a keen sensitivity to the nuances of film as is evident in his award-winning film scores for various webseries, documentaries, short films, and a feature film.