Ed Johnson

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Ed has spent a lifetime inside Brazilian music — not studying it from the outside, but living in it. Born in San Francisco and raised in Palo Alto, he grew up in a household where music was always present, discovered Jobim as a teenager and never looked back. Seven internationally acclaimed recordings later, JazzTimes would call him one of the finest Brazilian composers in the world. His teachers included Bobby McFerrin and Tuck Andress. He has performed with The Pointer Sisters and taught guitar and voice at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto for over forty years — longer than anyone in their history.

In 2013 Ed Johnson brought his guitar into the Vintage Noise sound and the band found its identity. His playing sits just behind the beat — lush, rhythmic, unmistakably Brazilian — giving the music its warmth and ease. He sings when the song calls for it, his voice often compared to Ivan Lins and Milton Nascimento. Michael sings differently when Ed is in the room. Looser. More confident. Like someone who knows the person standing next to them has done this before and isn't going anywhere.