In 1990, Sonia Johnson settled in Montreal to pursue her studies in classical singing at the Vincent-d’Indy School of Music. That is where she discovered vocal jazz through workshops by bassist Michel Donato. Self-taught improviser, she developed her craft by listening to legends of the vocal tradition.
Over the past ten years she combined a diversity of artistic experiments: instigator of her own jazz trio, teacher, soloist within Felix Stussi’s octet, performer and director for musicals. She participated in important venues such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Thousans Islands Jazz Festival, and the Festival en chanson de Petite-Valle
In 2005, she received a grant from the Montreal Mayor’s Foundation for Youth to produce her first album, DON’T EXPLAIN, a recording where scat singing is privileged. Critics are seduced by the precision of her voice and her elegant improvisations.
Just released with Effendi Records, her second album LE CARRE; DE NOS AMOURS contains original French songs and was nominated for Best Jazz Creation album at ADISQ 2011.