Dax Johnson

Dax Johnson was a composer and pianist from Spokane, Wash. In the late '90s and early '00s, he was a familiar sight at outdoor markets and downtown areas throughout the Pacific Northwest, as he performed in public on a standup piano he would roll out of the back of his van. His meditative compositions, a mixture of neo-classical melodies, minimalist repetition and new age emotion, were influenced by both George Winston and his contemporary David Nevue, who eventually became a close friend of the musician. His playing style, said Nevue, is remarkable for its raw energy and its willingness to let minor imperfections slide by. Johnson recorded four albums in his lifetime, but he passed away in 2004, at the age of 30, living on the streets of LA. His final album, The Beauty of Human Error, was assembled posthumously by friends and family.