Josh Johnston (born 1974) is a pianist, arranger and composer/songwriter from Dun Laoghaire, just south of Dublin in Ireland. After graduating from the University of Salford with a degree in Popular Music in 1997, he messed around for a couple of years, working in radio and music retail before taking the plunge to try his hand at being a full-time musician.

Since releasing his CD, Three Friends in 2001 (which he recorded in Dublin with singer Jane Dalton and Zrazy saxophonist Carole Nelson and which featured songs by Johnston, Bob Dylan, Hoagy Carmichael and others), he has built a steady reputation as a thoughtful and musically literate performer and recording artiste, increasingly writing his own material and treating others’ music with the sensitivity and respect it deserves. His second CD Asylum Harbour – 2008 – was a case in point. This is a musically wide-ranging mixture of instrumentals and songs, co-writes and covers, all arranged by Josh in a wide variety of settings ranging from piano solo to full band and beyond.

Since 2001 Josh has recorded and performed live regularly as a jazz duo with Dublin violinist David MacKenzie (www.davidandjosh.com) and an ensemble which takes the swing jazz of Stephan Grappelli as a starting point but also mixes elements of latin jazz, blues and classical music to create an excellently refreshing mix of standards and original compositions. They released their 2nd CD, Notes Home in June 2008.

He also has wrote and performed regularly with Birr singer / songwriter Roesy (www.roesy.net) from 2001 to 2007, appearing in countless shows and on three CDs. He has played live and recorded with musicians from across the musical spectrum such as Kila, SJ McArdle, Breda Mayock, Keith Mullins, Stewart Agnew, Declan O’Rourke, Peadar King, Breda Mayock, Hank Wiedel, and Ronan Swift, among others.

Josh also directs the Iveagh Singers (a vocal ensemble based in Dublin city centre), accompanies choirs, singers and soloists; for exams, rehearsals and recitals and is the organist at the Unitarian Church in Dublin. Classically trained and with a keen interest in all forms of popular music, he is a versatile and valuable session musician, equally at home in jazz, folk and rock.

For further information on David & Josh activities, please go to www.davidandjosh.com