"'Spirituality,' 'fire,'
and 'passion' are not simply words [Clarence] Johnson uses when talking
about the music—they are also emotions that are evident in his playing,"
— Geraldine Wyckoff,
Gambit Magazine
Clarence has recorded two compacts discs for STR Digital Records: the 1997 release Love For Sale, a duet effort with pianist Vahag Petian; and his 1998 debut as leader Dedicated to You. He has also recorded with Tori Amos, Bruce Hornsby, Cubanismo, Davell Crawford, the Yacomo Allstars, Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe, and the gospel group Blessed.
Clarence
won the 2000 OffBeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Award for Best Saxophone
Player in New Orleans. He also won the 1999 Big Easy Award in the Best
Emerging Artist category. Clarence was recently featured in an article
in The Times-Picayune (New Orleans daily) and a jazze.com
article written by John Swenson (of Rolling Stone's "Guide to Jazz
and Blues").
Clarence has performed with such national acts as John Scofield, John
Medeski, Jimmy Smith, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, New York Voices,
Bill Summers, Billy Bang, Stanley Turrentine, Ernie Watts, Bill Watrous,
and Ed Thigpen. He has also worked with Henry Butler, Dixie Cups, Ellis
Marsalis, Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball, George Porter, Jr. and the Runnin'
Partners, Zigaboo Modeliste, Moses Hogan, Philip Manuel, Don Vappie and
the Creole Serenaders, and a host of other New Orleans greats.
The
Clarence Johnson Ensemble has appeared at the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals. Clarence has also appeared at
the 1999 French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and as headliner at the
1998 Yerevan International Jazz Festival in Armenia. He has also appeared
at the Essence Festival, as well as at festivals in Rio de Janiero, Berlin,
Matsue (Japan), Utretch (Holland), Kansas City, Chicago and Ann Arbor.
Clarence and his ensemble recently appeared on Louisiana Jukebox, which
was broadcast in metro New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Opelousas,
LA; Memphis, TN; Cleveland; OH and Austin, TX.
In New Orleans, Clarence has performed at House of Blues, Tipitina's,
Sweet Lorraines, Storyville District, Howlin' Wolf, Louisiana Music Factory,
Tower Records, Virgin Records, and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. He served
as musical director of the 1997 Lula Elzy production of Duke EllingtonŐs
Nutcracker Swing, as well the 1999 production of Duke Ellington's New
Orleans Suite. He has been featured on several television programs, including
the morning shows at WWL and WDSU, Louisiana Jukebox, and in television
commercials for the Contemporary Arts Center, Community Coffee and Louisiana
Office of Tourism.
Clarence has appeared on a BBC Radio documentary about New Orleans music.
He regularly hosts a jazz show on WWOZ
90.7 fm radio in New Orleans. Clarence also appeared as a clinician
and performer at the 1998 and 1999 LMNOP music conference.
In 1992, Clarence was chosen for the McDonalds' All-American Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Leon Breeden and worked with guest conductor Henry Mancini. In that same year, he was inducted into the Yamaha Young Performing Artist program in New York City, which led to further recognition in Downbeat Magazine's "Auditions" column, which features up and coming artists.