Stratford music review: Michael Louis Johnson presents a relaxing evening of original jazz with Half Moon, Half Crazy

Jazz musician Michael Louis Johnson and pianist Jack Wyndham perform in the first of series of six house concerts in Stratford this summer, “Half Moon, Half Crazy.”

By: Galen Simmons

It was one of those opportunities I couldn’t turn down.

Michael Louis Johnson, the lone trumpet player from this season’s production of Death of a Salesman at the Stratford Festival – my favourite play so far – had invited me to the house he was staying at while in Stratford to enjoy a concert of original jazz and storytelling written and performed by Michael with backing from professional pianist Jack Wyndham.

I didn’t know what to expect from the evening; I wasn’t familiar with Johnson’s music other than his stellar trumpet playing in Death of a Salesman. As I arrived at the small, unassuming home on Ontario Street, which shares a wall with Rapunzel Hair Design – the owner of which is Johnson’s landlord and was in attendance for the concert – I walked through the open front door, not entirely sure I was in the right place.

That fear abated somewhat as I was warmly greeted by the guests who had already arrived, including a couple I had met last year at an event hosted by the Stratford Film Festival. The room was painted an aquamarine blue, guests were seated on several antique couches placed around the perimeter, there was a piano against one wall and more seating towards the kitchen at the back.

At first, the room felt like a French salon with its antique furniture, long, flowing curtains and a few pieces of art on the walls that felt as if they were significant in some way to Johnson’s life and career in music.

As I walked further into the room, looking to introduce myself as a reviewer, Jack was the first to shake my hand. He welcomed me warmly and admitted he was a little nervous about the show being reviewed that evening. Then, Michael walked in from the kitchen – he had been fixing drinks for his guests and preparing snacks for intermission – and he gave me a vigorous handshake as I introduced myself. He, too, welcomed me warmly and told me to grab myself a drink before settling in for the show.

The room was hot, but for some reason, it felt like it fit with the overall vibe; listening to live jazz on a hot, summer night with a bunch of strangers in a room that felt like it had been transported from some past decade. It really did set the stage.

Jack sat at the piano and began playing softly – a little jazz piano as a backdrop before the real show began. His fiancé sat quietly beside him on the couch, crocheting a veil for their wedding next month.

Before too long, Michael joined Jack and introduced himself to the 15 or so of us seated in his living room. He told a story about playing his final number during a power outage at the end of a recent performance of Death of a Salesman and said this concert would be the first in a series of six at his home every Thursday night until Aug. 13.

Then Michael launched into his stories, each of which streamed seamlessly into his songs as Jack’s fingers flitted back and forth on the piano, keeping up with Michael’s energetic and humorous storytelling with expert timing.

Michael spoke about touring with his band, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, and meeting nice people wherever they went; he spoke about drinking and hangovers, and lost love and writing and singing songs for events that never happened, his daughter when she was young and the woman he would make his wife – the latter of which he sang on her answering machine, sealing the deal, so to speak.

Each story introduced a new song and created an emotional connection with the audience. It’s clear Michael writes his music from the heart, from what he knows, and that deep connection to his music carries through in the smoky character of his voice, suited perfectly for his jazz melodies.

On occasion, and when the song called for it, Michael would invite the audience to sing along. Now, I’m not usually one to sing along at concerts unless I know the music by heart, but even though I’d never listened to Michael’s music before, I found myself singing along all the same. His music is infectious in a way where it worms its way into your brain and stays there all night. Heck, I’m still singing some of the songs I can remember as I write this review a day later.

And of course, each song had room for solos – one for Michael on trumpet and one for Jack on piano. It was during these solos where we saw the two musicians truly shine, their talents on full display.

Throughout the night, the drinks flowed, we enjoyed fresh cheese and crackers brought by a dairy-farmer friend of Michael’s from Grey County and we revelled in both the music and each other’s company.

Before the final song – or the last song before the encore – Michael offered those gathered an ice-cold shot of vodka, telling us the concert would end with a toast. Before that could happen, he launched into a translated rendition of “Dark Eyes,” an iconic Russian romance song. Michael finished the song, we toasted to getting through the darkest of times with the ones we love, and those of us who participated threw back the shot.

A fitting end to a truly memorable evening.

Michael bade us goodnight with one final lullaby, asked us to pay whatever we felt the concert was worth to us and invited us to stay, listen to records and drink a while longer.

Though I didn’t know Michael or his music before I attended the Thursday evening house concert, I left as both a fan and a friend.

For more information on Half Moon, Half Crazy and to buy tickets, visit www.michaellouisjohnson.ca/tickets.