“Johnston explores the limits of his instrument with a hankering for originality…running away and never looking back.”
– San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Pick of the Week”
With an affinity for music that defies easy categorization, Canada-born, Bay Area-based trumpeter/composer Darren Johnston works within jazz, purely improvised music, music of the Balkans, Jamaica (as a regular member of Groundation), contemporary classical, and more.
He has worked with a broad and diverse collection of artists such as ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Marshal Allen, Ches Smith, Dayna Stephens, Marcus Shelby, Carmen Staaf, Michael Formanek, Anais Mitchell, Michael Attias, Slavic Soul Party!, Myra Melford, Fred Frith, Allison Miller, Pete Escovedo, Buddy Miles, SF Sound Ensemble, Drive By Truckers, and many more.
Photo by Julie Caine
Upcoming Shows
February 28, 2025: Larry Ochs + Tales End @ Bird and Beckett Books and Music, 653 Chenery St, San Francisco, CA 94131
March 7, 2025: Improvised music @ Medicine for Nightmares, 3036 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
David Michalak - homemade instruments, harmonica, lap steel, TBD...
Bruce Ackley - soprano sax, clarinet
Ben Davis - cello
Darren Johnston - trumpet
March 13-17, 2025: Groundation in Hawaii
March 13 - Da Playground, Wailuku
March 14 - Oa Brew, Kailua Kona, Big Island
March 15 - Anna Hou Park, Kilauea, Kauai
March 16 - Blue Note, Honolulu, Oahu
March 17 - Blue Note, Honolulu, Oahu
Join Darren's mailing list to stay updated on upcoming shows and releases.