Matt Johnson (keyboardist)
{{short description|British keyboardist (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{For|Matt Johnson, the British singer of The The|Matt Johnson (singer)}}{{For|Matt Johnson, the American keyboardist|Matt and Kim}}{{BLP sources|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Johnson
| image = Matt Johnson.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|02|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date =
| origin = Bournemouth, England
| instrument = keyboard
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Musician
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 1990s–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Jamiroquai (2002–present)
| website =
}}
Matt Johnson (born 3 February 1969) is a British keyboardist who plays for the funk and jazz band Jamiroquai.
Biography
Johnson was aged one and a half when he started playing the piano at his family home. "My dad was a musician, so there was always music playing in the house; but I remember being taught by a scary old piano teacher, who must have been over 90 years old". His influences range from Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis through to Squarepusher.{{Cite web|title=Matt Johnson (Keyboardist)|url=https://www.traxsource.com/artist/637484/matt-johnson-keyboardist|access-date=2021-10-17|website=www.traxsource.com}}
Before playing in Jamiroquai, Johnson was a writer and performer for bands Sunray—with whom Kym Mazelle recorded a cover of "Perhaps"—and Nu Hope. He has also written and produced songs for artists such as Alexia, who had a minor hit with "Ring".
His route into Jamiroquai was via an audition in 2002. He was recommended by Simon Katz, a previous Jamiroquai guitarist, and Derrick gave him the call. The audition was a success, and Matt became a songwriter and member of Jamiroquai.
He joined Jamiroquai on 2 May 2002, replacing the founding member Toby Smith as keyboardist.
Johnson has also had a stint as the chief songwriting partner and producer—along with a Jamiroquai bandmate, guitarist Rob Harris—for singer-songwriter Julian Perretta, helping him create his debut album, Stitch Me Up, which was released in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/julian-perretta-mn0002548607/biography|title=Julian Perretta {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=28 April 2018}}
Johnson produced and co-wrote songs for the group's 2017 album, Automaton, with bandmate Jay Kay.{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jamiroquai-automaton|title=Jamiroquai Automaton|website=exclaim.ca|language=en|access-date=28 April 2018}} He also produced Jon Regen's 2019 album Higher Ground.{{cite news |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=New Music: Jon Regen, Wilco, Avett Brothers, Brantley Gilbert and more... |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/entertainment/new-music-jon-regen-wilco-avett-brothers-brantley-gilbert-and/article_aa11a814-e6ab-11e9-a2a4-db4ac34c0d4c.html |access-date=14 September 2021 |work=The Oakland Press |date=4 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010020831/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/entertainment/new-music-jon-regen-wilco-avett-brothers-brantley-gilbert-and/article_aa11a814-e6ab-11e9-a2a4-db4ac34c0d4c.html |archive-date=10 October 2019}} In July 2020, he released three singles—"With The Music", “ZOOM”, and “Sunshine”—to promote his new album, With the Music, which was released on 18 July 2020 in Japan, followed by a worldwide release two days later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCpNMqRKPRE|title = With the Music|website = YouTube}}
Sound on Sound magazine website described Johnson as "one of the most talented and prolific keyboard players of the last 20 years" in April 2022.{{cite web |last1=Puricelli |first1=Rob |title=Matt Johnson - Jamiroquai |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/matt-johnson-jamiroquai-podcast |website=Sound on Sound |access-date=14 September 2022 |date=April 2022}}
Discography
- Dynamite (2005)
- Rock Dust Light Star (2010)
- Automaton (2017)
- With The Music (2020)
- Warrior Princess (announced 2025)
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{Jamiroquai}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Matt}}
Category:Musicians from London
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