Bio
Kris Johnson is an acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and educator originating from the vibrant city of Detroit. With a dynamic portfolio encompassing music, film scores, musical theater, and education, Kris has carved an enduring legacy in the jazz realm through his diverse range of projects.
Kris’s professional career is expansive for an artist so young, including: composing several musicals, including “Jim Crow’s Tears” and “Hastings Street: The Musical”; scoring films, such as the Emmy-nominated web series “King Ester”; producing successful personal projects, such as The Kris Johnson Group, and #looptherapy; and serving as the founder and director of the Paradise Theatre Big Band through the Detroit Symphony.
With contributions to 6 GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning “Basie Swings the Blues” by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member of Endea Owens and the Cookout since 2023, and with the esteemed Count Basie Orchestra from 2008-2019 as a soloist and arranger, performing at prestigious venues like the Apollo Theater, Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, Kennedy Center, and more. His collaborations extend to musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Leslie Odom Jr., and Wycliffe Gordon, showcasing his versatile talent.
Currently, Kris is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. His journey as an educator began with his own education at Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz Studies in 2005 and 2007, respectively. He has gone on to serve in the role of Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Utah from 2015-2019; a Project Director for Pontiac School District, leading a U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education – Model Development and Dissemination Grant from 2009-2010; as the Education and Digital Programming Manager for the Motown Museum in 2021; and as the Executive Director of the MSU Community Music School-Detroit from 2022-2024. Additionally, he has served on the teaching faculty at The Ohio State University, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Youth Ensembles, and as an Artistic Liaison for JazzEd Detroit through a partnership with ArtOps and the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
