{{Short description|Canadian jazz formation}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jeff Johnston Trio | image = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | origin = Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | genre = Jazz | years_active = 1980s-present | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|http://www.jeffjohnstonmusic.com/}} | current_members = Jeff Johnston<br />Fraser Hollins<br />Rich Irwin | past_members = Mike Billard<br />Jim Vivian }}
The '''Jeff Johnston Trio''' is a Canadian jazz band from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.<ref>{{cite web|title=Popular Music|url=http://www.heritage.nf.ca/arts/pop_music.html|work=Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage|publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland|accessdate=18 November 2012|archive-date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003053818/http://www.heritage.nf.ca/arts/pop_music.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The trio, consisting of pianist Jeff Johnston, bassist Jim Vivian and drummer Michael Billard, has been nominated for a 2002 Juno Award and a 2000 East Coast Music Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Island artists collect 12 ECMA nominations|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/island-artists-collect-12-ecma-nominations-1.190199|work=CBC News|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=4 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904142551/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/island-artists-collect-12-ecma-nominations-1.190199|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== The Jeff Johnston Trio played its first show in 1983; that year the trio participated in the first Newfoundland Sound Symposium.<ref>[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sound-symposium-emc/ "Sound Symposium"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818004245/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sound-symposium-emc/ |date=2017-08-18 }}. ''Canadian Encyclopedia'', 02/07/2006</ref>
The band's album ''Nuage'', recorded in 2001, was nominated for a Juno Award as "Best Contemporary Jazz Instrumental".<ref>{{cite web|title=Local groups notch two Juno nominations|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/local-groups-notch-two-juno-nominations-1.320596|work=CBC News|access-date=18 November 2012|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140840/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/local-groups-notch-two-juno-nominations-1.320596|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://ottawajazzscene.ca/news/6995-jeff-johnston-returns-to-his-trios-musical-roots-and-then-moves-forward-with-his-new-album "Jeff Johnston returns to his trio's musical roots and then moves forward with his new album"]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. ''OttawaJazzScene.ca'', by Alayne McGregor 24 April 2013</ref>
In 2013, the group released its fifth recording, ''Returning'', featuring jazz in the style of 1970s and 1980s European pianists.
Johnston has relocated to Montreal, where he has brought together a new group, still called the Jeff Johnston Trio, with bassist Fraser Hollins, and drummer Rich Irwin.<ref>[https://ottawajazzscene.ca/reviews/35-show-reviews/7129-jeff-johnston-trio-enraptures-the-audience?fontstyle=f-larger "Jeff Johnston Trio enraptures the audience (review)"]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. by Alayne McGregor ''OttawaJazzScene.ca'', 10 May 2013</ref>
Drummer Mike Billard died on September 1, 2024, at the age of 60.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Gerard Billard |url=https://www.cauls.ca/obituary/michael-billard |website=Cauls |access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref>
==Personnel== *Jeff Johnston (leader) *Mike Billard *Jim Vivian<ref>{{cite web|title=Jeff Johnston Trio|url=http://www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/bands/jeff-johnston-trio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108192522/http://www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/bands/jeff-johnston-trio.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 8, 2011|work=Canadian Jazz Archive|publisher=Canadian Jazz Archive Online|accessdate=18 November 2012}}</ref>
==Discography== *''Nuage'' (2002) (Jeff Johnston, Jim Vivian, Michael Billard, Featuring David Liebman & John Abercrombie) *''Returning'' (2013) (Jeff Johnston, Jim Vivian, Michael Billard)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.jeffjohnstonmusic.com/}} * {{discogs artist|Jeff Johnston Trio}} * {{imdb name|6231736|name=Jeff Johnston}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jeff Johnston Trio}} Category:Musical groups from Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Canadian jazz ensembles Category:Musical groups with year of establishment missing