ERIK JOHNSON
Photo by Lynn Chaiken
I am a drummer, composer, producer, educator, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of High Hill Studios located in the Brandywine Valley, just outside of Philadelphia, PA.
In 2018, after spending 19 years as a professor at Temple University and The University of the Arts, I left professorial life behind to thoroughly devote myself to recording, performing, and teaching privately.
I taught music theory, ear training, improvisation, large and small ensembles, Master’s level pedagogy, and thousands of individual lessons over my nearly twenty years at the university level.
My recording and performing credits include: Huffamoose, The Fractals, Matt McAndrew (The Voice), Susan Werner, Lizanne Knott, Ben Schachter’s Trio of Many, George Garzone, Tim Hagans, Jack Walrath, Gary Bartz, John Swana, Jef Lee Johnson, Ralph Bowen, Larry McKenna, Jim Ridl, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Kurt Elling, Gerald Veasley, Schoolly D, Jim Boggia, Mutlu, 4 Way Street, Ben Arnold, Zach Djanikian, Lelia Broussard, Liz Longley, Tyrone Brown, and countless others.
In 2019 I engineered and produced Susan Werner’s album, “NOLA,” at High Hill Studios, also playing drums and bass. My next project was a collaboration with a remarkable emerging artist, Jackson Craig. His new release, “Secrets at the Bottom of the Pool” is available on most streaming platforms and YouTube. On “Secrets” I played drums and bass, co-produced, and mixed and mastered the album.
My playing and producing can also be heard on jingles and spots for ESPN, Speed Network, Fox Sports, Pep Boys, Comcast, Sears, Peach Street Distilleries, and others. I have written and performed music for films including “Here Comes Huffamoose,” Abel Ferrara’s “RX Mas,” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” (with The Fractals) and more.