ALEX JOHNSON
Musician. Drummer. Composer
Alex is a working musician on the Montreal scene, and is pursuing his Master’s Degree at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. He has played across Canada, in many styles of music including Jazz, Rock, Pop, Country Surf, Klezmer, Folk and Punk among others, but always with an improvisatory focus. Alex enjoys a busy working schedule while balancing his studies. You will find him either gigging or at local jam sessions.
Alex has played as both band leader and side man with such luminaries as Jean-Michel Pilc, Ira Coleman, Lorne Lofsky, Allison Au, Josh Rager, Kevin Dean, André White, Jodi Proznik, Bill Coon, Rémi-Jean Leblanc & Andrés Vial, among others. He has been mentored by Jim Doxas & Adrian Vedady while at Concordia University, Michel Lambert at McGill University, and Terry Clarke, Don Thompson, Ra Kalam Bob Moses & Joe Farnsworth outside of post-secondary education.​
Alex was raised in Kelowna, BC, studying piano, guitar and drums. Naturally gravitating towards drums & percussion, Alex played in and led various local and school bands in a wide variety of genres. Along the way he was honored for his work ethic and leadership skills with his school’s first Music Scholarship and obtained his Audio Engineering & Music Production certification from Okanagan College.
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival January 2017 (photo credit: Enzo Jones)
Alex moved to Montreal, the jazz epicenter of Canada, in 2018 to pursue his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies at Concordia University and immerse himself in Montreal’s robust music scene. During this productive time Alex was awarded the Robert Daniel Ball Memorial Scholarship and was selected for the prestigious Garnet Key Society, serving as the Vice-President for the 64th cohort. Alex was the Student Host of the Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill Student Jam and released his debut album of original compositions “Live at Resonance 03/08/20” during the Covid Pandemic. Persevering the major paradigm shifts that the pandemic brought to education and the performing world, Alex graduated from Concordia with Distinction in 2022.
Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill Concordia Student Jam
Live at Resonance 03/08/20 Live Recording (photo credit: Bryan Li)
Beyond school Alex threw himself into the Jazz culture of Montreal. He was invited to continue hosting the Concordia Student Jam for a temporary term, mentoring upcoming students and players in a working environment. He also volunteered weekly at The Societe Jazz de Saint-Henri, while continuing as a working musician playing professionally with local heavy-weights such as Rémi Bolduc, Jeremy Sandfelder, Sam Kirmayer, Al McLean, Bogdan Gumenyuk, Alec Walkington, Mike Bruzesse, Frank Lozano, Levi Dover, Min Rager, Yur Yesli, Jihye Im, Carlos Jiménez, Fraser Hollins, Mike De Masi, Baron Tymas, Tevet Sela, Greg Amirault, Mathieu Soucy, Dave Watts, Robin Chemtov, Jennifer Ball, Bill Mahar, Jeff Johnston, Michael Herring, Paul Shrofel, Michael Johancsik, Leighton Harrell, Maude Fortier, Victoria Malenfant and Alex LeBlanc, among others.
Alex resumed studying at McGill in 2024 and is continuing to gig at local hotspots and renowned venues such as Montreal’s Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill and Toronto’s Cameron House. He is currently exploring deep-dives into the music of jazz masters and performing with established Montreal jazz icons, melding and bridging new and well-established musicians in collaborative projects and performances. Alex also gigs in several local bands, including The Chris George Project, The Part-Timers, Jacob River Milnes, June Lagoon, Neon Lagoon, Alessio Bolusi Quintet and Ginella & The All-Timers, and works as a session musician with a wide variety of bands and musicians.
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Alex welcomes new working opportunities and may be contacted directly through the Contact Page.