Gail took those various dialogue sessions that photographer and graphic designer Lena Ringstad and I had with her about releasing her product and truly going for It. She continued pushing forward, working her way to the front line, center stage as a headliner and joined the ranks of other female contributors who have also been guiding lights within the industry who help pave the way for other female musicians to know they too can create their dreams. Each pushing towards success while being mothers, producers, sisters, friends and entrepreneurs in the music business and continuing to do what they love.
Now, Gail Jhonson is a season headliner!!

What’s your sound and your approach to music?

I’m from Philadelphia so I have the roots of Gamble and Huff, Tom Bell, Linda Creed and all the great artists from the Intruders to the Stylistics to Dexter Wanzell, TSOP Orchestra & organist Charles Earland to name a small few of the many artists across so many genres. I have a love of jazz and contemporary popular music. My sound in my music is an approach to fuse all the elements of music that I grew up listening to, with the sophisticated jazz patterns that I’ve learned into one funky, grooving melting pot.

What was the first jazz album you bought?

The first jazz record that I bought was probably Grover Washington or Booker T and the MG’s. I started out taking piano lessons but the sound of the Organ became my heart. I remember when I was little girl,my grandmother had a little Organ in the basement. I would turn that little machine on and start pressing. I just loved the sound of that instrument.

And when it came to soul and r&b…

Of course I loved James Brown, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin – all songs and albums that my mother would buy. Back then, whole family listened to the same music. Johnny Mathis and Nancy Wilson was two of my mom’s favorites I like them too! But when Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone came along – I knew I wanted to be a musician. I couldn’t just listen to the music- I had to play it – I had to be part of it!

Who were your teachers and how did they influence you?

I took piano lessons in elementary school from the Catholic nuns. I’m wanted to read classical music and I really seemed to enjoy the opera music. I would remember the music from a TV show like Mary Poppins and I would try to pick out the notes on the piano but that was a no-no for my music teacher.

I could remember melodies and tempos and elements of songs I would hear. I wanted to play the songs on the piano but I was not encouraged to do so. So my cousin called me one day and said he was starting a band and if would I be interested to join. I thought wow, perfect, I can play all the songs I want now. The name of the band was “Natural Experience.” I played with that band from 9th grade until I graduated high school. And we traveled the East Coast from Philadelphia down to Virginia where our family originated from.

I started getting serious after hearing groups like Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and the great Earth Wind and Fire. I wanted to play like that. I wanted to write songs like that. I thought if I studied hard, played well, I could have a huge successful career in music.

I heard about Berklee College of music in Boston, so I took the train ride up there with a couple of my friends, and said this is the place where I am going to study. I applied, auditioned and I got accepted! I started learning about John Coltrain, Herbie Hancock and Bartok and I was overwhelmed! I wanted to learn so much and started to question my ability to be able to do it. I was determined I had to try. But I also had to work. So I divided my time between the two and graduated with a degree in Composition. That experience has helped me tremendously in writing, composing and music directing.

Do you teach?

Yes! I taught my daughter since she was a baby. And I taught her friends and gave recitals for all of them from elementary school to middle school. I started teaching at the world famous Musician’s Institute in Hollywood California. I needed the benefits for my daughter and myself. I was there for 12 years while on tour with Grammy award-winning Norman Brown. I don’t know how I managed that busy schedule – being a mother, carpool mom, band director at church, and still had time to write songs and cook dinner!

What is your teaching approach?

My approach to teaching is first to be very very encouraging. I prefer students that really love music – and that they not only WANT to do it, they HAVE to do it. So I teach them the way I was taught. They must be able to read music, must learn music by ear, they must be a part of the music. If I find that they enjoy writing and singing or producing in the studio – then I encourage that too!

Do you have a dream band?

Wow, okay I’ll pick an old one and a new one. So for my old band I would have: Billy Cobham on Drums, Charles Mingus on bass, Joe Williams singing, George Benson on guitar, Milt Jackson on vibes, Joe Henderson on sax, Hugh Masekela on trumpet and Tito Puente on percussion.

My new band would include: Marcus Miller on bass, Larry Dunn on keys, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, Patrice Rushen on keys as well, Norman Brown on guitar and Take 6 singing!

Road story: Your best or worst experience?

I traveled around the world with the legendary Bobby Womack who has since passed on. I was in Amsterdam and then we traveled to Belgium for content and unexpectedly the rest of the tour got canceled. So I went shopping had lunch at a real Belgian waffle restaurant, but some Christmas gifts and later returned back to the hotel only to find that Bobby Regina the band the bus driver everybody was gone.

I was so scared but luckily I have my American Express card my very first credit card. And my friend Robbie was our sound engineer I liaison stayed behind, tell me three languages and had a case three buses and three trains to get to Paris and I sit down with a good student and listen and travel thousands of miles by myself. I was so afraid but I know I had to do it and I just did what I had to do I had to catch up with the band we had to do the show and the city show must go on. So when I got to Cliche France, the whole Band came and greeted me with a hug and was so glad that I was okay. I was really upset with all of them because I thought one of them – just one of my band members should’ve stayed behind to travel with me and make sure everything was alright.

But everything turned out fine. Bobby gave me a hug and said he was sorry. He explained that the tour was canceled and he had to get all 20 of us back to Paris in time to get the flights to get back home. so that’s why they had a sudden departure. Lesson, I won’t ever leave the group again – the buddy system is always in place.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

My favorite recording is Off The Top with Jimmy Smith – I love that record from start to finish… the solos, the musicianship, the jam – Awesome!

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

I represent female musicians in jazz. Our numbers are few in comparison. I think I may be an inspiration to many, especially women and young musicians.

Did you know…

I am left-handed. My favorite color is pink. I collect rocks.

Music you are listening to now?

Gene Harris… I study YouTube videos and live performances of Ramsey Lewis.
Sparkly Puppy is a new favorite.

How would you describe the state of music, R&B, Jazz, basically all genres today?

The state of music today is ever changing. R&B, Jazz, Gospel and Funk genres have blended so beautifully that the lines are very blurred. I think we can safely say “American Music” at this point until some new sound comes out breaks away.

Tell me a little about “Jazz in Pink“?

I had the opportunity to go on the smooth jazz cruise and I met flutist name Althea Renè. I made friends with her and was amazed that I didn’t know her as a female artist in the smooth jazz genre. I organize a meeting between the two of us and Kyna Hubbard – a promoter from San Diego. We talked about the state of women in music and decided we should do something about it. I wanted to call the new group Jazz in Pink to represent – jazz and the female principle-pink! I soon arranged for my manager to help us and Kyna called Eddie Price and booked us in San Diego in the fall of 2008.

Jazz and the female principle-pink!

We are an ensemble of moving parts, a ready made package for promoters to choose from. Including Althea Rene/flute, Karen Briggs/violin, Robin Bramlett /bass, Darlene Moreno/guitar, Benita Lewis/drums, Maria Antoinette/harp. Occasionally, Lynne Fiddmont/vocals, Estaire Godinez/percussion and “Pocket” Brown/drums. We have had special guests including Nnenna Freelon, Pamela hart, Maysa-all vocalists. Paula Atherton & Jeanette Harris /sax, Cindy Bradley/trumpet and newcomer vocalist Pamella Elaine.

It’s been an evolving experience and a very rewarding one too. We are not only a band, but a sisterhood of support for each other. We first recorded a single, “GOT TO BE TRUE”, then a Holiday record “ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY”, and currently a full CD “1ST COLLECTION”.

What is your greatest fear when you perform?

Getting out there in front of all those people. Once I pass the confrontation I’m good. Of course I want them to like me and clap and then buy my CD!

What is your favorite song to whistle or sing in the shower?

TAKE IT FROM ME, SOMEDAY WE’LL ALL BE FREE – Donny Hathaway.

By day, what you do?

Practice, run my company PHILLY THE KID MUSIC

So If you were not a musician and producer what would you be?

If I weren’t a keyboardist, I would be an… Anthropologist!