Ahmad Johnson

Ahmad Thomas Johnson is a rising young artist, performer, educator, and premier Jazz drummer at Michigan State University was born and raised out of West Palm Beach, FL. Growing up in a family of the arts, he was heavily influenced by all types of music and since the age of three has been pursuing his passion for the drums. During his early childhood years there was a heavy Jazz influence therefore developing an “ear” for his craft. When joining his middle school Jazz band, Ahmad immediately submerged to the different styles of music. Studying drummers such as Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Buddy Rich, Ahmad began to develop and continue to improve his skills into the talented Musician he is today. Going to one of the top high schools in the country, Ahmad has had enormous opportunities to show his ability and passion for the drums such as having the privilege to work with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drummer, Ali Jackson in 2013 and in 2016, performing with The Adderly brother's (Tribute to the great Cannonball Adderley) in 2016 and much more. Ahmad is also apart of the Inaugural class of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy, Awarded by the Berklee 12 week program and has been awarded by The Juilliard Jazz summer camp for astounding performances within the program.

Currently at Michigan State University, Ahmad is involved with almost every music ensemble the university has to offer. These ensembles include Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Octet and holds the leadership of groups such as, The Ahmad Johnson Trio and Quintet. Ahmad’s versatile skill set behind the drums have lead him not only to provide for the arts community, but also work closely with some of the most well known artist/ groups in the world, including but not limited:
Wynton Marsalis, Rodney Whitaker, Ali Jackson, Marcus Printup, Yasushi Nakamura, Ulysses Owens Jr., Anat Cohen, Russell Malone, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jason Marsalis, Randy Gelispie, Nat Adderley Jr., Longineu Parsons, Carl Allen, Ron Blake, Ray (Quasi) Nelson, Wycliffe Gordon, and has played in numerous large ensembles such as The All District Honor Jazz Band for over four years, and 2016 Swing Central Jazz Festival (Ranked 1st place), getting the opportunity to work with professional arrangers, composers and musicians from all around the world. Ahmad is constantly arranging projects and ideas, providing the opportunity to give back to communities and saving the arts.

​This summer 2017, Ahmad and his phenomenal trio with tour the east coast showcasing "The Legends of Jazz", a set of music that accompanies the repertoire, compositions and arrangements which are influenced by legendary jazz groups such as The Ahmad Jamal trio, Oscar Peterson trio, and Cannonball Adderly Quintet which truly delivers a hard-bop vocabulary into their group's musical direction. This tour will promote their album debuting next spring.

Goal wise, Ahmad aspires to become the drummer for The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in the near future. His ambitions are not only to succeed at all that is necessary to become a great musician, but also to grow as a person. Ahmad’s ability to share ideas, lead and follow when necessary are skills that have allowed him to work well with his peers and grow as a jazz artist. With a strong passion for his craft, a humble spirit, and a bold commitment, Ahmad is certainly an innovative contributor to jazz community and generations to come. A powerful and charismatic performer, Ahmad Johnson possess wide-ranging talents that are reinvigorating the contemporary arts, and are received enthusiastically nationwide.