Max Johnson - Double Bass & Bow

All Music by Max Johnson
(Max Johnson Music ASCAP)
Recorded by Jason Borisoff at Conveyor
Mixed by Max Johnson
Mastered by Weasel Walter
Artwork by Leah Asher
Photograph by Aidan Grant
Design by Mike Robinson
Logo by Victoria Salvador

Special thanks to Michael Attias, Art Blakey, Tim Daisy, Aidan Grant, Ed Maday, Angel Spadaro, Weasel Walter, Gabby, and everyone who supported this album through Kickstarter.

“Hermit Music” is a collection of spontaneously composed pieces for the double bass and bow. From 2017-2019 I played a series of solo concerts in the US and Europe and wanted to capture the music I was creating at the time, so I planned to record in the Spring of 2020. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic began, my life had undergone some major changes and losses, but when New York shut down in March of 2020, I became deeply depressed and couldn’t bear to play my instrument for months. While I watched musicians talk about how great it was to take time off, or how productive they were being, I struggled to get out of bed each day, and found it hard to put on my usual positive face. In many ways, the pandemic marked the ending of a very busy, productive, and happy time of my life. The following two years have been a daily battle to resume being a positive productive human being, and this music represents the dark confusing place I have been living since. Recording this music was very difficult for me, and created a number of mental and emotional challenges I did not anticipate. What you hear on this record is a different bass player, improviser, and person than you would have heard two years prior, and this music symbolizes my struggle with self, reality, purpose, and mental health. This album represents who I am right now, and I am proud to share it with you.

- Max Johnson, 2022