As an artist, performer, and producer, Jesse Johnson has traveled the US and Europe and performed with some of the biggest artists in popular American music, European undergound, and even living legends from the Motown era and the early days of American Pop and Soul.
The list of artists he’s shared the stage with include Tevin Campbell (“Can We Talk”, ”Round and Round”), Katherine McPhee, Joey McCintyre (NKOB), Naturi Naughton (3LW, FAME, Notorious), Matthew Morrison (GLEE), Darlene Love (“He’s a Rebel,” “Da Doo Ron Ron”), Marc Shaiman (“Wind Beneath My Wings”, “From a Distance”) and Paul Williams (“We’ve Only Just Begun”).
The Jesse Johnson Trio is an old fashioned Soul and Pop band, wrapped up in the form of a Classic three piece Rock Trio. JJ3 takes the songwriting, guitar playing, and soulful vocals of Jesse Johnson, and and surrounds them with the Funk, Jazz, and Soul infused grooves of Argentinian bassist Jony Jatom, and in demand session drummer, Elias Berlinger.
The resulting combination of pop friendly hooks, soulful grooves and world class musicianship is a sound not heard anywhere else in music.
Player Bios…
Jonatan Jatom was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was introduced to the Electric Bass at the age of sixteen. Since then, he has studied privately with Cesar Franov, and attended The Manuel de Falla Conservatory, Escuela de Musica Popular de Avellaneda, and Escuela de Musica Popular (Buenos Aires), where the Berklee method is taught.
At the age of nineteen, Jony left his home country to further pursue music as a career.
After 2 tours as an entertainer for Royal Caribbean International, Jony moved to Toronto and later New York City where he signed on as bass player for Jesse Johnson and creative partner at Higher Ground Music. Jony relocated from New York to San Diego in 2007.
Elias Berlinger has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists in both San Diego and Los Angeles in genres ranging from jazz to punk rock. Early influences included everything from Miles Davis and The Police to Bob Marley. His versatile playing style reflects a wide array of musical tastes.
Elias is a graduate and scholarship recipient from the prestigious Musicians Institute in Hollywood where he studied drum and percussion performance. A musician dedicated to fine tuning his craft, he continues to perform and record with top original and cover bands throughout Southern California.
Jesse Johnson was born and raised in San Diego, CA. After leaving San Diego to attend The Boston Conservatory, he spent three years straight touring the continental US. Ending his time on the road, Jesse stopped back in California to release “Cause & Effect,” a compilation of recordings he made in hotel rooms across the country while on tour between the ages of 19 and 21.
After the release of “Cause & Effect,” Jesse moved to New York City, where he signed on as bass player for the instrumental Hard Rock and Fusion band, “Wrecketh.” While in New York, Jesse also met bass player Jony Jatom. After leaving NYC to tour Europe with “Wrecketh,” Jesse decided, along with Jony, to head back to California for a new start. Jesse now runs Higher Ground Music, a boutique music production and education firm in San Diego.
