Thursday Night Jazz: James Johnson III’s Nature-Inspired Original Compositions (with Strings)

Photo Courtesy: James Johnson III.

After fusing jazz and hip hop this spring with his new group, The Soup Session, drummer and composer James Johnson III continues to take leaps of connection with a project three years in the making. This time, he invites us into a world where traditional jazz, the bounty of nature, and the allure of strings meld into one dynamic suite of sound. This performance presents a suite of original compositions, teaming up a trio of strings and a traditional jazz quintet for a nature-inspired evening of innovation. 

About the Artist:

James Johnson III began playing the drums at the age of five in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Johnson attended CAPA, Pittsburgh’s high school for the creative and performing arts. It was there that he came under the mentorship of the drummer Roger Humphries. Upon graduating high school, James was invited to tour with jazz legend Ahmad Jamal. With Ahmad, James performed all over the world, appearing in major jazz venues such as Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. As a member of the Ahmad Jamal trio, James has also appeared at major festivals such as the Cully Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival in South Africa, and the Dublin Jazz Festival. James has also performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, George Coleman, James Moody, Sean Jones, Monty Alexander, Mulgrew Miller, Russell Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Werner, and Hubert Laws. In addition to his performance schedule, James currently serves on the music faculty at the Afro American Music Institute, University of Pittsburgh, and Chatham University. His second solo album, Between, was released in 2019.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit OpenTable or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.