About

Mission

I seek to ease the unecessary suffering of human and nonhuman beings by helping people perceive the world more clearly and take better care of themselves. I do this by creating and performing music, easing the burden of digital technology, and establishing healthy relationships with food.

Web Development & Design Projects

• Katinnganiq Makespace Network (Pinnguaq Association). Makerspace IT implementation. System design w Synology, Docker, Gitea, NGINX Proxy Manager, and Mastodon. 2023.
• Pinnguaq Association. Web development consultation. Technical lead, DevOps, technical strategy, WordPress support. 2023.
• African American Graphic Designers. Marketing website support. Web development on WordPress. 2020.
• Relax Station. Massage studio website redesign. Web design and development on WordPress. 2020.
• Kera MacKenzie. Artist Portfolio Website. Web design and development on Kirby CMS. 2020.
• Sahara Lounge. Music Venue Website. Web design and development on WordPress. 2019.
• Hiba Ali. Artist Portfolio Website. Web design and development on Grav CMS. 2019.
• Jenkins Electric (Hunt + Gather). eCommerce website. Web development on WordPress and WooCommerce. 2019.
• Environmental Defense Fund (Howdy Design). Interactive iPad experience. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
• NurturMe (Howdy Design). eCommerce website. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
• DigiDaybook. Marketing website. Web development on WordPress. 2018.
• Austin Rhythm and Drum. Marketing website. Web development and design on WordPress. 2018.
• Bettinger Realtors. Real estate angeny website support. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Colleges of Distinction (Design it Please). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Jenkins Electric (Howdy Design). Marketing website. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Copacino + Fujikado (Howdy Design). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Food and City (Design it Please). Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Real Massive. Marketing website enhancement. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Vintage American Guitar. Archival website enhancment. Web development on WordPress. 2017.
• Sahara Lounge. Music venue website. Web development and design on WordPress. 2015.
• Battleground Texas. Political action committee advocacy website enhancement. Web development on WordPress, Blue State Digital. 2014
• 3Q Digital. Marketing agency website build. Web development on WordPress. 2014.
• Sylla Music. Business card design and printing. 2013.
• JumpStartMD. Health agency website build. Web development on WordPress. 2013.

Music Recordings / Discography

• Black Earth by R. Chris Johnson. Tenor saxophone, flute, bansuri, percussion, music production. 6 February, 2024.
• El Adiós by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 12 June 2020.
• Darkness Falls on the Edge of Time by Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone on Mame Se, Allo Allo Boom, Showdown, Darkness Falls, Blood of Royalty, and Hamza. 11 October 2019.
• Cumbéalo by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 10 May 2019.
• Suelta by Superfonicos. Tenor saxophone. 5 October, 2018.
• Unbreakable by Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone on all tracks exceprt Silloute. 16 September, 2016.
• Moment of Resolution by R. Chris Johnson. Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, percussion, music production. 12 August, 2012.
• Chesterfield by Chesterfield. Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone. Arrangement. 11 November, 2011.
• Drone Tones by R. Chris Johnson. Music production. 1 September, 2011.
• Life on the Underground by R. Chris Johnson. Tenor saxophone, flute, music production. 1 August, 2011.
• In the Devil’s Playgroud. Electric Dee and Ghostwriter. Tenor saxophone on track 5. 29 June 2011.
• Ghost of Soul by Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Arrangement. 2010.

Selected Musical Performances

2022 – 2024

• Stay Black and Live Juneteenth Festival. Zoumountchi. Tenor Saxophone. 22 June 2024.
• Solidarity Share Fare. R. Chris Johnon x Justice. Alto saxophone. Eugene, OR. May 28, 2023.
• Meridian Brothers (Bogota, Col) w Superfónicos. Epistrophy Arts. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 16 August 2022.

2019

• 9th Annual Chilren in Nature Workshop. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 23 November 2012.
• Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. The Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 20 October 2019.
• Transpecos Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Marfa, TX. 27 September 2019.
• River Revival Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. New Braunfels, TX. 26 September, 2019.
• Texas Music Museum International Music Festival. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 8 September 2019.
• Noorderzon Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Groningen, Netherlands. 15 August 2019.
• Point Éphémère. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Paris, France. 14 August 2019.
• Musikfeswoochen Winterthur. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Winterthur, Switzerland. 13 August 2019.
• Palais Sommer. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Dresden, Germany. 11 August 2019.
• 3000 Grad Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Wustrow, Germany. 10 August 2019.
• Druckluft. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Oberhausen, Germany. 9 August 2019.
• At the B-Sites. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Den Bosch, Netherlands. 8 August 2019.
• Boulevard Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Den Bosch, Netherlands. 8 August 2019.
• Watt En Schlick Fest. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Kurhaus Dangast Strand, Germany. 3 August 2019.
• Appletree Garden Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Diepholz, Germany. 2 August 2019.
• Skandalös Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Neukirchen, Germandy. 01 August, 2019.
• Schlachthof. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Wiesbaden, Germany. 31 July 2019.
• Les Nuits Secretes Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Aulnoye-Aymeries, France. 27-28 July 2019.
• Burg Herzberg Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Breitenbach, Germany. 26 July 2019.
• Habitat Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Hohenlockstedt, Germany. 25 July 2019.
• Woodstock 69 Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Bloemendall aan Zee, Netherlands. 24 July 2019.
• Totaal Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Bladel, Netherlands. 23 July 2019.
• Bluedot Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Chesshire, United Kingdom. 21 July 2019.
• Zwarte Cross Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone, flute. Lichtevoorde, Netherlands. 20 July, 2019.
• World Refugee Day. Bullock Museum. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Killeen, TX. 15 June 2019.
• KUTX Presents Superfónicos Cumbéalo Single Relase. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Mexican American Cultural Center. Austin, TX. 11 May 2019.
• Festival d’été de Québec. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Quebec City, QB, Canada. 7 July 2019.
• Montreal Jazz Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Montreal, QB. Canada. Tenor Saxophone, Flute. 6 July 2019.
• The Texas Taco Tequila & Music Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 25 May 2019.
• Akamba Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Tenor saxophone, flute. 27 April 2019.
• Boone Elementary. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 4 April 2019.
• Congo Square. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, sangban dundun. Austin, TX. 24 March 2019.
• Nrmal Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Ciudad de México, Mexico. Tenor saxophone. 1 March 2019.

2018

• Sahara Lounge. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 30 November 2018.
• Texas Music Museum International Music Festival. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 9 September 2018.
• Saturnalia Festiva. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 17 November 2018.
• Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Santa Fe, NM. 31 October 2018.
• Formula 1 Pirelli 2018 United States Grand Prix. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 21 October 2018.
• Pappy & Harriets. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Yucca Valley, CA. 28 October 2018.
• La Lagunitas Festival. Goldwn Dawn Arkestra. Tenor Saxophone, flute. Pamona, CA. 27 October 2018.
• Si Se Puede. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Empire Control Room and Garage, Austin, TX. 20 October 2018.
• Casa Marianella. Spirit of the Drum. Alto saxophone, Austin, TX. 30 September 2018.
• Austin City Limits Music Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 12 October 2018.
• Fall Pecan Street Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 22 September 2018.
• Austin City Limits Music Festival. Golden Dawn Arkestra. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 5 September 2018.
• Contemporary Ancestral Colombian Orchestra. Jaime Ospina. Tenor Saxophone. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 19 April 2018.
• Behind the Mask. Akirash. Tenor saxophone. Big Medium. Austin, TX. 18 April 2018.
• Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, sangban. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 25 March 2018.
• USA to Africa Business and Matchmaking Conference. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 9 March 2018.
• Black History Month, San Antonio Military Medical Center. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone, djembe. San Antonio, TX. 22 February 2018.
• Soundhealing Exhibition by Vernon Adams. Spirit of the Drum. Tenor Saxophone. 17 February 2018.

2017

• Flamingo Cantina. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 3 November 2017.
• Spider House Presents: Greater Houston Community Foundatoion Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and Emancipet. Superfónicos. Tenor saxohpone. The Ballroom. Austin, TX. 24 September 2017.
• Money Chicha Live Taping w Third Root. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Antone’s Night Club. Austin, TX. 15 September 2017.
• Luna. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 9 September 2017.
• Hard Proof + Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Threadgill’s. Austin, TX. 26 August 2017.
• 27th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor Saxophone. Fiesta Gardens. Austin, TX. 20 August 2017.
• Texas Taco Tequila and Margarita Festival. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Heritage Park. Conroe, TX. 19 August 2017.
• Festival De Cumbia En La Capital. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Barracuda Lounge. Austin, TX. 29 July 2017.
• Superfónicos + Chulita Vinyl Club. Tenor Saxophone. Caroline Restaurant. Austin, TX. 28 July 2017.
• The Wine Down by Dreaming Tree Wines. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. 3TEN ACL Live. Austin, TX. 28 June 2017.
• Texas Folk Life Exhibition. R. Chris Johnson, Abou Sylla. Djembe, dunduns, balafon. San Antonio, TX. 10 June 2017.
• Levitation Presents. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Barracuda Lounge. Austin, TX. 6 May 2017.
• SXSW Satur-DAZE. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Half Step. Austin, TX. 18 March 2017.
• SXSC III in Austin, Elk Records. Superfónicos. Tenor saxophone. Flamingo Cantina. Austin, TX. 17 March 2017.

2016

• Internatonal Night, University of Texas at Austin. Bramaya West Africa Drum & Dance. Alto Saxophone. Frank Erwin Center. Austin, TX. 9 November 2016.
• Congo Square. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor saxophone. Vortex Theatre, Austin, TX. 15 October 2016.
• US / Africa Expo. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone. 14 – 15 October 2016.
• Austin Music Museum. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone, djembe. 11 October 2016.
• Austin International Music Extravaganza by Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intution. Alto saxophone. Spiderhouse Ballroom. 13 September 2016.
• Austin to Africa Benefit. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Sahara Lounge, Austin, TX. 5 June 2016.

2015

• US Africa Cultural Expo and Business Matchmaking. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 21 November 2015.
• World Music Unleashed. School of Indian Percussion and Music. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance Tenor saxophone. Northwest Hills Church. 7 November 2015.
• An Evening in Africa. Sunset Valley Arts Comission. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone, djembe. Austin, TX. 19 September 2015.
• HONK TX Five Year Celebration. Bramaya West African Drum & Dance. Tenor Saxophone. Spiderhouse Ballroom. Austin, TX. 28 March 2015.
• Peace and Rhythm Festival by Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intuition. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto saxophone, djembe. Family Life Center. Austin, TX. 7 March 2015.
• Black History Month, Harmony Public Schools. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Austin, TX. 20 February 2015.
• One Billion Rising Revolution Austin. Bramaya West African Drum and Dance. Alto Saxophone. Austin, TX. 14 February 2015.

2014

• Luna Night Club. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 27 June 2014.
• Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Queen City Music Hall. Ft. Worth, TX. 15 June 2014.
• Austin International Music Extravaganza. Cosmic Intuition Productions. Cosmic Intuition. Alto saxophone. Family Life Center. Austin, TX. 17 May 2014.
• Continental Club. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 10 May 2014.
• The Rustic. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Dallas TX. 9 May 2014.
• House of Fifi DuBois. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. San Angelo, TX. 25 April 2014.
• Luna. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. San Antonio TX. 19 April 2014.
• Monnalisa at Hotel Sorella. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Houston, TX. 18 April 2014.
• Central Market – North. Soul Track Mind. Tenor saxophone. Austin, TX. 11 April 2014.

2011

• Momo’s. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. Austin, TX. 14 May 2011.
• Luna. Soul Track Mind. Tenor Saxophone. San Antonio, TX. 28 May 2011.

Theatre Performances

• Miracle on 34th Street. Flute, Tenor saxophone. Georgetown Palace Theatre. Georgetown, TX. 2012.
• Buddy Holly Story. Tenor Saxophone, Actor (Apollo Host). Georgetown Palace Theatre. Georgetown, TX. 2012

Grants and Awards

• Black Fret Artist. Superfónicos. December, 2019.
• Texas FolkLife Apprenticeship. R. Chris Johnson, Abou Sylla. Djembe, dunduns, balafon. January, 2017.
• Gates Millineum Scholar. R. Chris Johnson. 2003.

Video

• Luminated. R. Chris Johnson. 2024
• Trinity. R. Chris Johnson. 2024.
• Tender. Katrina Simpson. 19 March 2019.
• Austin360 Studio Sessions. Superfónicos. 10 April 2018.
• Sigue Palante. Superfónicos. KUTX Austin. 27 July 2017.
• International Music Festival Presented by the Texas Music Museum. Zoumountchi. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center. Austin, TX. 24 January 2014.
• Africa Night. Zoumountchi. Sahara Lounge. Austin, TX. 2 March 2014.
• Peace Concert. Zoumountchi. VUKA. Austin, TX. 2013.

Press

• “Luminated, Black Earth”. Untapped Show, KAZI FM 88.7. 6 July, 2024. Austin, TX.
• “Black Earth.” Leftovers, Twisted Soul. 17 May, 2024.
• “Luminated, Black Earth.” BandCamp Weekly #736. 23 April, 2024.

Ensembles and Performing Groups

• Superfonicos
• Bramaya
• Cosmic Intuition
• Zoumountchi
• Chesterfield
• Soul Track Mind
• Innervisions Gospel Choir

Music Residencies

• Afro Jazz
• Africa Night

Education

• UX Fundamentals Aquent Gymnasium, 2017
• Front End Development Certification, freeCodeCamp, 2016
• BS Electrical Engineering. Systems and Signals, Microcontrollers. The University of Texas at Austin. 2008.