Born In Minneapolis (December 12, 1954), Jeff Johnson ("Free" to some of his colleagues) left at age 20, spending time in Philadelphia and New York, and has worked with jazz musicians including Philly Joe Jones, Charlie Rouse, Barney Kessel, Chet Baker, Lew Tabackin, Eddie Daniels, Joanne Brackeen, Julian Priester, Billy Hart, George Cables, Bud Shank, Claudio Roditti, and Michael Wolfe. Vocalists who have been accompanied by Johnson include Jay Clayton, Ernestine Anderson, Karrin Allyson, Mark Murphy, Rebecca Parris, Annie Ross and Marlena Shaw.
Johnson met Jessica Williams in Seattle in 1991 and Hal Galper at the Port Townsend Festival in 1993.
He now leads various small ensembles, composes, goes on the road frequently and is involved in numerous projects, and recording dates around the world.