Merry Christmas by Michelle Johnson

What is it about Christmas music? It takes us back to our childhood…to a time when we dared to dream, wish, and believe in things that we cannot see. My hope is that you feel this sense of wonderment, nostalgia, and celebration as you listen to this album. Never one to be put in a box, I’ve brought my jazz, classical, and Broadway influences into these recordings, but most importantly, my heart and soul are on every track. My incredible producer, master jazz pianist and good friend Uli Geissendoerfer, has created breathtaking arrangements that both pushed and inspired me. Enjoy the record and stay tuned for what’s next. I wish you love, peace, and inspiration, this season and all year.

I am over the moon to be joined by some incredible musicians in making this record: pianist and producer Uli Geissendoerfer (Tito Puente, Blood Sweat & Tears, UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble), drummer Larry Aberman (Nile Rodgers, Joe Sample, Lalah Hathaway), bassist David Ostrem (Donny Osmond, Clint Holmes, Pat Martino), sax and clarinetist Julian Tanaka (Boyz II Men, Postmodern Jukebox), trombonist Nate Kimball (Natalie Cole, The Killers, Gladys Knight, Cirque du Soleil), the gorgeous string quartet consisting of Rebecca Ramsey, James Harvey, Hanna Suk, and Lindsey Springer (collectively Adele, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Sr., and many more), sensational vocalist Gary Fowler (Ricky Martin, Las Vegas Philharmonic), and America’s Got Talent winner and my dear friend, singer-songwriter Michael Grimm. This was a dream lineup, and I loved every minute of the magic we made on this record.

Michelle Johnson



Merry Christmas! I never thought that would be the title, but now it seems perfectly appropriate: made during the Christmas season and recorded mostly on Sundays (the advents), this album features some of the most iconic Christmas songs, and it brought us all a tremendous joy to make it. Joy in all aspects – from the wonderful collaboration between Michelle and me, the inherent trust in a great output, the love and fantastic musicianship present, to our great engineers. Michelle is an incredibly versatile artist and singer, and the real challenge was to capitalize on that versatility and then go beyond it to find the essence of the music. And with no false humility, I say we did. Merry Christmas!

Uli Geissendoerfer, Arranger and Producer



Special Thanks from Michelle:

Thank you to my mom, Barbara Johnson, who has always been my biggest fan. I am so happy you got to watch the making of this record in person. I had to include your picture in the liner notes! You mean the world to me, and it is always my goal to make you proud.

Thank you to my husband and best friend Bob Traver for always supporting me, for always putting me first, and for putting up with my crazy schedule and hectic singer’s life. You are my heart.

Thanks to my Yale jazz professor Dwight Andrews for teaching me what’s behind the phrase, the lyric, the notes.

Thanks to my friends and mentors, jazz singers Jane Monheit and Tierney Sutton, for always encouraging me, and thanks to my good friend, blues guitarist David Hamburger, who told me to get back into the studio.

Extra thanks to Michael Grimm and Gary Fowler for lending your incredible vocal gifts to this project.

Big thanks to my team! Thanks to my personal assistant Dani Corley for keeping me organized, focused, and motivated. Thanks to my makeup artist and everything person Ish Bermudez for doing so much to keep me sane and looking my best, and for all his creative behind-the-scenes work, from video and set design to graphics. Thanks to assistant Debbi Block for all her priceless help in and out of the studio. Thanks to helper Danyel Arianna, who always reminds me to embrace the little kid in me, and to helper Brooklyne Walker, who keeps me calm and centered.

Thanks to my bestie Aliyah Baruchin for…well, everything. I love you.

Thanks to Rob Killenberger for your critical ear and longtime friendship.

Thanks to vocal coach Kimberly Kanitz for keeping my voice healthy.

Thanks to Khloe Churko and engineers Luis Pacheco and Tristan Hardin at Hideout Recording Studio, and thanks to videographer Joel Martinez.

Thanks to John Katsilometes from the Las Vegas Review Journal for always covering my releases and performances.

Thanks to all the venues in Las Vegas that have allowed me to grow as an artist – The Smith Center, The Space, The Vegas Room, and so many others.

Thanks to the Las Vegas community and music fans for embracing me. When I moved here from New York it was supposed to be temporary, but my heart was stolen, and 26 years later I am still here.

Thanks to Vegas Records for creating a space for Las Vegas-based musicians to create and thrive.

And my biggest thank you goes to this record’s producer, pianist, arranger, and my wonderful friend Uli Geissendoerfer, who knows exactly how to extract the essence of who I am and somehow get it into musical form. Your brilliant mind, your drive, your musical ideas, your focus, and your kindness are unparalleled, and your playing makes my heart soar. Thank you for everything.


Connect with Michelle Johnson at her official website: https://www.michellejohnson.com

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MichelleJohnsonVocalist

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalistMichelleJohnsonTV

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divamichellejohnson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChickSingerLV