The Francesca Johnson Quartet - Aug. 5th

Francesca Johnson is a gifted young Wisconsin jazz singer whose classically trained voice evokes the tradition of great singers of the 1950’s. In the great tradition of June Christy and Peggy Lee, Johnson is making her mark on the national stage as a singer of taste and distinction with a bit of Southern grit thrown in the mix.

Francesca Johnson was born into music. Her father (bassist Marc Johnson) played in Bill Evans' last trio as well as with Stan Getz, John Abercrombie, Eliane Elias, and many others. Francesca’s first words were, literally, "Bill Evans". Her mother (Stephanie Jutt) is a classical flutist and founder of the Wisconsin-based chamber music festival, Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society.  Johnson grew up absorbing the music that would sculpt her future.

She is a recent graduate from the legendary Jazz Studies program at the University of North Texas. While a student, Johnson performed with the Downbeat Award-winning Jazz Singers ensemble. She also sang with many of the university's big bands, including an appearance at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Los Angeles.

Johnson relocated back to Madison in 2008 where she is singing regularly with an assortment of jazz musicians.  During the past year she has given a series of jazz workshops in area high schools and is working on material that will appear on her first commercial album.  She has been heard in Madison at Restaurant Magnus, Café Montmartre, Samba, Brasserie V, Monroe St. Bistro, and the Concourse.