Popular Gospel Jazz Artist, Allyn Johnson, To Drop First CD, Allyn Johnson & Divine Order
Head Of UDC’s Jazz Studies Makes Stunning Debut
(Washington, D.C.) – July 22, 2009 - Allyn Johnson, one of the area’s most sought-after musicians, is preparing to release his debut release, Allyn Johnson & Divine Order. A jazz aficionado and master of the piano, Johnson is respected as a multi-talented producer, composer, and arranger and improvisational genius. The Director of Jazz Studies at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is currently an associate professor at UDC and divides his time between teaching and performing. Johnson’s new self-titled CD, Allyn Johnson & Divine Order, officially releases on Sunday, July 26, 2009.
The new release expresses Allyn’s love and gifting in the genre of straight-ahead jazz and inspirational music. His jazzy rendition of the classic “Jesus Loves Me”, the festive “He Lives In Me” and the rock-influenced “Angels” are all expressions of an incredibly gifted artist, pianist, songwriter and arranger. Johnson has played with a long list of artists, including Buck Hill, Andrew White, Bobby Watson, Keter Betts, Christian McBride, and Stanley Turrentine.
Mentored by jazz great Calvin Jones, Allyn Johnson was chosen for the highly competitive UDC Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in 2001 and returned to teach in the program in 2002. As a composer-arranger, he has a growing library of works for ensembles of varying sizes and instrumentation. Divine Order, an ensemble of exceptionally gifted and talented instrumentalists and vocalists from the Washington metropolitan area, at any given time, comprises string orchestra, brass, woodwind, rhythm sections and chorus.
For more information on Allyn Johnson, go to www.AllynJohnsonDivineOrder.com.
