Richard Johnson

Richard Doron Johnson is an acclaimed American jazz pianist, composer, and music educator born in Pittsburgh in 1975. He was introduced to piano at age five by his father, a gospel pianist, and developed his skills through studies at prestigious institutions including Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory (where he earned a master’s in jazz pedagogy), and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance under Ron Carter. Johnson gained wider recognition as a member of Wynton Marsalis' Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in the early 2000s, and has performed alongside jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Stevie Wonder. Beyond performing, he contributes as a professor at the Peabody Conservatory, leads youth jazz education programs, and has multiple albums as a bandleader showcasing his mastery and creativity in jazz.

His recent works include the EP *Into the World* and several thematic albums like *Into the Fighting* and *American Biographies: Henry Ford*. Johnson’s style blends deep jazz roots with modern influences, and he is recognized for both his compositions and mentoring young musicians. He is also a Yamaha-endorsed artist and continues to actively perform at festivals worldwide, combining rigorous technique with vibrant expression.

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