Jimmy "Flim" Johnson

[JimmyJ]

Hi Kaspar,
 
Thanks for the note, nice to hear from you again.
 
I love it that there are Radio Big Bands in Europe!  My pal Gary Husband sometimes plays drums for NDR.  We have no such sponsored bands over here except for the house bands on late-night TV shows, and maybe the Lincoln Center groups.  Even though some would say jazz originated in the 'States it's only considered a legitimate business in other parts of the world.  Ha!!
 
And those bands over there are great so congratulations on your position as bassist for DR.  It must be a blast playing with those fantastic musicians.
 
Also congratulations on your new Alembic, I hope you are enjoying the big sound!  To answer your question, no, these basses haven't resulted in any back issues for me.  If the weight is bugging you I can only recommend sitting down.  I'm guessing you play upright as well so maybe you already have a stool on stage?  I think a bari sax weighs more than an Alembic bass - which is probably why they always sit.  Ha!
 
All the best,
Jimmy J
 
(Message edited by jimmyj on April 08, 2014)

[rapsak_v]

Hi Jimmy
 
Yeah, I'm really grateful of my gig. I even got to play with Larry Goldings a couple years ago. A true gentleman, in fact, it's been my experience that alle the truly great musicians, I've played with, have been wonderful people.
The only downside to the gig is that we're only hired 6 months a year. But then again it's nice to be able to play in smaller combos.
I hope to get to see and hear you when you hit Copenhagen this September with James Taylor. My buddy  Mikkel  has already contacted you in the hope of getting to meet you. I hope  you're up for it. Nothing too ...elaborate? Just a  handshake and perhaps a coffee. It's SO COOL, you're hanging around this club!
 
Thanks
 
Kaspar

[rapsak_v]

Sorry, I continue my rant :-)
Yes I guess  sitting is an option. Just not very sexy. Oh, shoot, I'm 45 and overweight so....
The Alembic sound certainly is different  from what I'm used to. Only played one gig with it so far. The B string has the voice of God! And the tone, which seemed a bit to hifi in my bedroom was wonderfully clear and open on the gig.
 
Thanks again
 
Kaspar

[reinier]

Jimmy, great fun to read more people had the  Wow experience seeing you back in '85 onstage with Lee Ritenour at North Sea Jazz!! I too knew you only as Flim Johnson from the Arrowhead sleeve (from which I put your pic up here when starting this thread).  
In that same year '85 there was this floppy single inserted in Guitar Player of Allan's  Metal Fatigue, crediting a certain  Jimmy Johnson on bass and although you knocked the listener right out his socks with that part, me and my band mates, all Arrowhead worshippers, didn't make the connection.  
When the North Sea Jazz Lee Ritenour line up announced Jimmy Johnson on bass too, boy, were we eager to go and check that cat out!  
Due to other performances we watched, we were a little late in the door in the huge Tuinpalviljoen and ended up next to the front of house board, far from the stage, so it wasn't until your first solo spot that we could clearly see that shape we all love so much [your hairdo helped a bit too ;-)] and all pieces of the puzzle fell into place: it was THE Flim Johnson we were hearing! Priceless night and although almost 30 years ago in the meantime, remember it as if it happened only yesterday.
 Take care, Reinier.
 
PS: did you enjoy the Peavey 2x10/2x18 walk-in closet they made you stand in front of (FoH sound was very good, don't worry)?

[ulli]

Reinier, what a coincedence, I got that free single too from that magazine, and after that I bought the CD which my brothers could not dig. i happen to make some photos of that RIT performance, and i lend the prints plus natives to a friend of mine, right before we lost contact with each other. I met him again on FB and after a few reminders he send me back the prints plus negatives last week, 29 years later! It was nice to see them back, from both Rit and Casiopea(my middle brother's fav band)I did not print the shots of Jimmy because in the spirit of a true bassplayer, he preferred to stand in the dark most of the time. I will see if can make prints of Jimmy after i manage to scan the negatives.  gr. Ulli

[ulli]

Btw, I am thinking to install a 4way rotary switch again in my Series One copy. How much does it cost to order the switch plus the install plate? Anyone knows?
Gr.
Ulli

[jacko]

Ulli.
You might be better posting your question in the  section. or better still, phone Mica, She is a delightful person to talk to.
 
Graeme

[ulli]

Thank you Graeme, I will do that.
 
Ulli

[JimmyJ]

Thanks for the notes everybody.  
 
Kaspar, glad you're enjoying the big tone!  To me it's a natural, almost acoustic sound more closely related to piano than electric guitar.  As such it's not what everybody is looking for in an electric bass but obviously I'm hooked on it...
 
And as you guys have pointed out, although this is the only sound I know how to make I've been lucky to do it in a variety of different musical settings.  I've enjoyed my never-know-where-he's-gonna-show-up career.  For what I do it helps to not be too famous for doing one thing.  Instead, some people think of me as a jazz guy, others a pop guy, some mostly a fretless player, I even had a short stint working for a rock producer back in the day.  Only curious bass players can figure out that those are all the same guy.  Ha!  I've had loads of fun.  It's all music to me and there is great stuff in every genre.
 
Ulli, good luck with your work Alembisizing your Fernandes.  You could probably purchase a prewired rotary selector switch from Mica (not a cheep piece) but I don't know about compatibility with your electronics.  Possible though, especially if the Fernandes originally had one there and if it functioned the same with the circuitry.
 
There may be a bit of an issue if you continue down this path of buying Alembic parts for your copy.  I don't really know how the family would feel about that.  I suspect they'd rather you saved up to buy a real one...  But if you love the way this bass feels and plays then you are of course free to upgrade it as much as you wish.
 
Carry on,
Jimmy J

[ulli]

Thank you Jimmy, yes i realised that after i read about the Alembisizing thing and getting a bat with hairy eyeball.If I get a no as amswer I can respect that. I have an idea already of the type of Grayhill switch. I could buy it from their site directly. But somehow it would be nice if i can buy the whole set from Alembic themselves. I will never be able to buy a real one, so this is my only fav option.
Ulli

[JuancarlinBass]

Sorry if this comment somewhat hijacks the thread, but I wanted to answer to Ulli on this regard. I used to say I could be never able to afford an Alembic, living in a third world country (the paradox is that we have the largest oil reserves in the world, but at the same time our living standards are WAY below most not-so-wealthy countries). Since about 13 years we have a strict currency control (ie. we?re not allowed to freely buy foreign exchange, we are limited to a certain (pretty small) amount of foreign currency available for transactions abroad (this year the quota is only of 300 USD per capita YEARLY for online operations abroad), and our own currency has underwent in the last years 4 devaluations. This has been the situation in this country for... ever (only aggravated in the latest 15 years, but we have never really been the equal, comfortable, wealthy society you would expect from one of the richest countries in the world as they say). And so, 25 years ago I was lusting for an Alembic since I played one, and thought exactly the same. My closest approach was to buy (1993), secondhand, a neck-thru Hondo bass with 2 DiMarzio P pickups and brass hardware, which seemed somewhat similar to me (go figure). Then in 2009 there simply was the chance to buy my Epic 5 secondhand, and all the stars lined up... and so I am now the proud caretaker of this wonderful instrument. I cannot assure if or when I will be able to have my dreamed MK Series 5, or a Rogue 6, or... but I see no reason why, if it has happened once, it couldn?t happen again. There are surprises beyond what we are currently able to see, so don?t give up hope!

[ulli]

Jcd, thank you for your reply. One day I hope I can meet Jimmy and save him by accident from something evil. Maybe then he wants to donate me one of his trio instruments ;-)Just kidding ofcourse, I just want to make my bass ready, thats all :-)
Gr. Ulli

[JuancarlinBass]

There?s a song I?ve been LOVING for years and years since it came out... and it has been not until tonite that I?ve found out it must be our dear Jimmy J on bass! I?m talking about a wonderful tune on Sergio Mendes?s Confetti album from 1985 called Real Life. I was playing it and almost went immediately to WIkipedia to find out about the credits... and found a dream team which credits James Johnson on Bass, Carlos Vega on drums, Robbie Buchanan on keyboards (By the way... does anybody remember his Maxus band from the early 80s? I must have worn out that vinyl so many times... it?s great!) and Dan Huff on guitar!. Needless to say, I played the song twice after that  
 
Thank you, Jimmy, for so many wonderful moments of good musicianship!

[ulli]

I didnot know Jimmy already played with Sergio that early. I tought Oceano was his first album with mr. Mendes. I do know Anthony Jackson already was on Sergio's Projects in the '70s

[JimmyJ]

Yes, well spotted Juan Carlos.  That must have been my first time working for Sergio, thus the odd James credit.  His sessions were always musically interesting and I found him to be a very nice guy.  And his wife Gracinia a fabulous singer!  I think Robbie was also new to LA at that time and finding success as an arranger / producer - in this classic 80's synth-pop style.  Another talented guy!
 
Thanks cats!
Jimmy J