Johnson studied at the University of North Texas where he was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band along with Lyle Mays. Johnson toured with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in the late 1970s. After a year, the 25-year old Johnson was hired by Bill Evans in 1978, and remained in Evans's trio until the pianist's death in 1980.
Johnson's first record under his own name for ECM, recorded in 1985, was Bass Desires, with Bill Frisell and John Scofield on guitar, and Peter Erskine on drums. The follow up in 1987, entitled Second Sight, included the ballad "Hymn for Her", dedicated to the memory of Johnson's sister, Terese. The Sound Of Summer Running was released in 1998 and featured Bill Frisell, Joey Baron, and Pat Metheny.
Johnson has played extensively with John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Eliane Elias (to whom he is married) and Enrico Pieranunzi. His latest (2005) recording for ECM, entitled Shades of Jade, includes Joe Lovano on saxophone. Elias contributed several compositions to the CD, including the ballad, "Apareceu".
He is also the stepson of Robert Ottman who was a professor of music theory at UNT. His daughter, Francesca Johnson, is a jazz singer who also studied at UNT.
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