Kris Johnson, Jazz Studies, was invited to perform with the Count Basie Orchestra for a special performance at Solon High School (Solon, OH) on Friday, February 1. Kris spent three years touring and recording with the Count Basie Orchestra as a soloist, arranger, and third trumpeter from 2008-2010. During this time, Kris appeared on three albums with the band: Tony Bennett's A Swingin' Christmas (Grammy-nominated), The Count Basie Orchestra's Swinging, Singing, Playing, and on the opening track of Jamie Cullum's The Pursuit. Additionally, he toured the United States, Europe, Japan, and appeared on The View, The Rachel Ray Show, Good Morning America, and the 2008 NBC Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center.

From www.basieband.org:

"William Count Basie started the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Within a year, America was listening in on popular radio shows throughout the country to hear what would become 'The Swingingest Band In All The Land'!  A phenomena was born in 1935, that is still going strong today!

Since Basie's passing in 1984, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes and now, Dennis Mackrel have led the Count Basie Orchestra and maintained it as one of the elite performing organizations in jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra has won 17 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls. More than any other big band in jazz."