Comments on: John Mayer Drummer JJ Johnson, Shows Form and Function http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/ all about robonzo's love of drumming and music Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:46:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Declan Connor http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-46810 Declan Connor Wed, 18 May 2011 20:02:22 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-46810 I think amongst Steve Jordan (obviously!) and Matt Chamberlain, JJ is in my top 3 fav players. What a fine musician this boy is with incredible stage presence. I dont think i've ever seen a player feel every note that he plays like the way JJ does. His musicality is beautiful, i have never heard anybody beat this guy for tone and choice of groove on a song. Any fills he goes are very well thought out, with lots of this great feel and space. His choice if gear and cymbals even lets you know how tasteful he is and also just how seriously he takes his craft.. That 24k light ride has to be up there as one of the finest cymbals in creation. A massive fan of this man i am, i just wish i could see more of him, there's just not enough info about him on the web. Everyone should check out Mayer's "Belief" on the "where the light is" dvd. I have never heard a more musical drum introduction to a song ever! Also check out the intro to "waiting on the world to change". Watching this guy play as a drumer is an education in every sense of the word. Cheers I think amongst Steve Jordan (obviously!) and Matt Chamberlain, JJ is in my top 3 fav players. What a fine musician this boy is with incredible stage presence. I dont think i’ve ever seen a player feel every note that he plays like the way JJ does. His musicality is beautiful, i have never heard anybody beat this guy for tone and choice of groove on a song. Any fills he goes are very well thought out, with lots of this great feel and space. His choice if gear and cymbals even lets you know how tasteful he is and also just how seriously he takes his craft.. That 24k light ride has to be up there as one of the finest cymbals in creation.

A massive fan of this man i am, i just wish i could see more of him, there’s just not enough info about him on the web. Everyone should check out Mayer’s “Belief” on the “where the light is” dvd. I have never heard a more musical drum introduction to a song ever! Also check out the intro to “waiting on the world to change”.

Watching this guy play as a drumer is an education in every sense of the word.
Cheers

]]> By: robertorrh http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-32807 robertorrh Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:19:34 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-32807 One of our readers (Stuart) recently asked, "What size the Ayotte snare drum does JJ use? Also how many plies thick is it?" He found out that it's a 14X6, 10-ply maple shell. Thanks Stuart! ~r One of our readers (Stuart) recently asked, “What size the Ayotte snare drum does JJ use? Also how many plies thick is it?” He found out that it’s a 14X6, 10-ply maple shell. Thanks Stuart!
~r

]]> By: robertorrh http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-32806 robertorrh Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:09:03 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-32806 Everyone knows that JJ is a great player, but no one ever talks about how cool he looks. I couldn't help myself. ~r Everyone knows that JJ is a great player, but no one ever talks about how cool he looks. I couldn’t help myself.
~r

]]> By: ben http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-32675 ben Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:49:25 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-32675 I love how you say "form" and then you start talking about his wardrobe. I love how you say “form” and then you start talking about his wardrobe.

]]> By: LaurieM http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-27323 LaurieM Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:20:08 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-27323 I had great joy of working with JJ back in Austin in 2000. I'm in LA now. He did some studio playing on an indie project I was doing under my own name- Laurie Markvart. To this day...JJ blows my mind. By far the best drummer I've had the chance to work with. All our work was studio...no live...my loss. Give a listen to my song Faith in which he plays on. http://www.garageband.com/artist/laurie_markvart Actually, on garageband he plays on Faith, Gloom, Zarelda & All In A Phone Call. But Faith...this is JJ in great form. He threw this beat down after some real simple guidance to my song layout and I still think today his beat brings the song to a whole other level. Okay...Ephraim Owens and his trumpet has a bit of magic on the song too but JJ...is smooth juice. I had great joy of working with JJ back in Austin in 2000. I’m in LA now. He did some studio playing on an indie project I was doing under my own name- Laurie Markvart. To this day…JJ blows my mind. By far the best drummer I’ve had the chance to work with. All our work was studio…no live…my loss. Give a listen to my song Faith in which he plays on.

http://www.garageband.com/artist/laurie_markvart

Actually, on garageband he plays on Faith, Gloom, Zarelda & All In A Phone Call. But Faith…this is JJ in great form. He threw this beat down after some real simple guidance to my song layout and I still think today his beat brings the song to a whole other level. Okay…Ephraim Owens and his trumpet has a bit of magic on the song too but JJ…is smooth juice.

]]> By: Chip Vayenas http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-24069 Chip Vayenas Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:58:43 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-24069 JJ is a really great guy and I'm so happy for his success and who it is with! I remember as well, catching him at the Steamboat in Austin, TX (on 6th St...sadly no more) with a few different bands as my main band out of Denton, TX (now in Austin) Mingo Fishtrap.. would open for them. I think he was playing with Ian Moore at the time. And yeah, as Nickolas says.. a truly humble and nice guy. And of course, such a deep player/musician and plays so musically. I don't think I've ever heard him play something that wasn't deeply supportive of the song. I just bumped into him at an Antone's gig I played on a Monday night a couple weeks ago and congratulated him on the "Where The Light Is" John Mayer Video. JJ Johnson and Pino Palladino (bass) AND Steve Jordan.. damn... a must have! JJ is a really great guy and I’m so happy for his success and who it is with! I remember as well, catching him at the Steamboat in Austin, TX (on 6th St…sadly no more) with a few different bands as my main band out of Denton, TX (now in Austin) Mingo Fishtrap.. would open for them. I think he was playing with Ian Moore at the time. And yeah, as Nickolas says.. a truly humble and nice guy.
And of course, such a deep player/musician and plays so musically. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him play something that wasn’t deeply supportive of the song. I just bumped into him at an Antone’s gig I played on a Monday night a couple weeks ago and congratulated him on the “Where The Light Is” John Mayer Video. JJ Johnson and Pino Palladino (bass) AND Steve Jordan.. damn… a must have!

]]> By: robertorrh http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-21330 robertorrh Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:34:39 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-21330 Having received a number of comments on JJ, I thought I'd share this somewhat dated bio that I found on Doyle Bramhall Jr's website. http://www.doylebramhall2nd.com/jjbio.htm ~r Having received a number of comments on JJ, I thought I’d share this somewhat dated bio that I found on Doyle Bramhall Jr’s website.

http://www.doylebramhall2nd.com/jjbio.htm

~r

]]> By: Nickolas http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-21320 Nickolas Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:07:43 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-21320 Met JJ Johnson opening up for the "Billy White Trio" at the Steamboat in Austin, TX on a Tuesday night in 1995. I was nervous as hell! I was 18 years old and it was my first gig in Austin at a legendary club. I had already heard a lot about "that JJ dude" but had no idea who he was. I look up during the last song and instanly knew that JJ was the guy leaning up against the wall watching my every move. He came over and introduced himself and even helped me pull my drums off the stage. At this time, I was rocking the giant over-kill drum kit with a million cymbals and toms and a double pedal... JJ sets up a kick, snare, hat, floor tom, and a crash/ride. He proceeded to change the way that I looked at a drum kit for the rest of my life. I now have a WAY scaled back config (thanks to JJ) and will never forget the night that I actually SAW and heard what playing a groove in the pocket was!! Blew me away! And an incredibly humble and nice cat too! Still can't find much about him on the web (no website -- no myspace). So props to all you guys for giving JJ props! Met JJ Johnson opening up for the “Billy White Trio” at the Steamboat in Austin, TX on a Tuesday night in 1995. I was nervous as hell! I was 18 years old and it was my first gig in Austin at a legendary club. I had already heard a lot about “that JJ dude” but had no idea who he was. I look up during the last song and instanly knew that JJ was the guy leaning up against the wall watching my every move. He came over and introduced himself and even helped me pull my drums off the stage. At this time, I was rocking the giant over-kill drum kit with a million cymbals and toms and a double pedal… JJ sets up a kick, snare, hat, floor tom, and a crash/ride. He proceeded to change the way that I looked at a drum kit for the rest of my life. I now have a WAY scaled back config (thanks to JJ) and will never forget the night that I actually SAW and heard what playing a groove in the pocket was!! Blew me away! And an incredibly humble and nice cat too! Still can’t find much about him on the web (no website — no myspace). So props to all you guys for giving JJ props!

]]> By: Massimo Maiorana http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-20651 Massimo Maiorana Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:18:36 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-20651 I had the opportunity to tour with John Mayer for several concerts in 2006... JJ is my fav. drummer ever for stage presence. Set up.... Looks like 24" bass drum, 13" rack tom plus 16" and 18" floor Ride Cymbals All K Costantinople and the Hi Hat looks like a custom made costantinople 16" maybe I'll get the set soon. He changes snares almost every song. He uses a 12" and a 14" very deep, also maybe a 15"... big sizes! I had the opportunity to tour with John Mayer for several concerts in 2006… JJ is my fav. drummer ever for stage presence.
Set up….
Looks like 24″ bass drum, 13″ rack tom plus 16″ and 18″ floor
Ride Cymbals All K Costantinople and the Hi Hat looks like a custom made costantinople 16″ maybe I’ll get the set soon.
He changes snares almost every song. He uses a 12″ and a 14″ very deep, also maybe a 15″… big sizes!

]]> By: Alex http://www.robonzo.com/2006/11/john-mayer-drummer-jj-johnson-shows-form-and-function/comment-page-1/#comment-20225 Alex Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:05:16 +0000 http://www.robonzo.com/?p=38#comment-20225 JJ Johnson's drumming is consistent and he keeps it "in the pocket." I see a lot of Steve Jordan influence in his drumming. I love that about his style. anyone know what type of sticks he uses? the promark site said he uses 9A's. That is obviously out of date or either thats what he uses to record with. Thanks for the info on JJ. -Alex JJ Johnson’s drumming is consistent and he keeps it “in the pocket.” I see a lot of Steve Jordan influence in his drumming. I love that about his style.
anyone know what type of sticks he uses? the promark site said he uses 9A’s. That is obviously out of date or either thats what he uses to record with. Thanks for the info on JJ.
-Alex

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