Shorties.

Shorties, Shorty's, Short Tee's... however you want to say it or spell it, another series of 3 short beats has been uploaded for your consumption... these ones all date back at least 4 years or so.  I love Shorteez!

Raw Jazz

Upright

Wah Choo Want

Sunlight.

Finally the sun is shining and nice weather is here (in Toronto at least)!  I am feeling inspired to create and also to get outside and enjoy nature and exercise and all that healthy shit that most studio people do not partake in.... do yourself a favor this season and get outside!!

My beat today has nothing to do with sunshine or exercise but it is kind of bumping.

Fall Back

You And Your Smile.

I was working on a musical idea / rough beat one day in the studio and my friend Alonzo came into the room and starting singing this melody which was very familiar to me.  He then told me it was from 'Invitation' , a jazz standard originally written in 1952 by Polish composer Bronislaw Kaper.  From then I knew what to do with the track.  I got my close friend and amazing vocalist Sacha Williamson to come in and sing on the track, and my friend David Leitman to play the piano parts (he knew the song in and out).   I think of it as a Hip-Hop meets Jazz meets Latin/Brazilian track.. what do you think?  It was released via 7" vinyl and digital on WAH WAH 45s in 2009.   I have posted the Bill Evans version of the song so you can hear the original composition as well.

Alister Johnson - Invitation ft. Sacha Williamson
  Alister Johnson ft Sacha Williamson - Invitation by alisterjohnson
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Bill Evans (w/ Eddie Gomez) - Invitation

Day Job.

Though I do not work in this sort of environment, I gotta give it up to those who do and can actually avoid going crazy.  I did this remix in 2006 for Sunshine State, a group from Toronto consisting of James Mccollum (Philosopher Kings) & Aleza . I am not sure if they will be releasing new material, but I always liked this one...  Big shouts to Marc Rogers on Upright Bass, David Gouveia on Percussion, & Oliver Johnson (my brother) on Guitar.  Play the whole thing so you can hear my breakdown.. :)  enjoy!

Day Job (Alister Johnson Remix)

82' Impala.

Yea, OK, this photo is not a Chevy Impala, but a Caprice...it's all I could find online.  Basically this is how I was riding around town on the reg back in high school. I had the blue version of this car (except an Impala, looks almost indentical).  One time I raced an old lady at a stoplight, totally left her in the dust. 350 V8 engine is no joke.  Even though I made this beat a few years ago (long after the car was retired), it reminded me of the feeling I had while cruising the mean streets of Peterborough, NH back in the late 90s.

82' Impala

Addicted.

No, I don't mean addicted to something illegal or strange....  I am talking about music.   In my opinion, one of the best addictions one can have.  Today I am posting some photos from my studio setup and a bit of a rough cut/paste edit 'beat' that I made one day...thanks for your patience!

Addicted

 

Lifetime.

A message to those who get discouraged and think you cannot complete everything you set out to accomplish, remember you have your lifetime to work on yourself and your goals.  Stick with it, continuous Effort and Consistency is the key.

Lifetime