Alistair Johnston

Alistair Johnston is a saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist and composer based in New York City. Alistair has a Masters of Music—Jazz Studies at New York University and a Bachelor of Music at The University of New South Wales in Australia. At NYU, he studied under Rich Perry, Tivon Pennicott, Billy Drummond, Lenny White, Dave Pietro and Michael Wolff while at NYU.

Alistair has performed internationally across Australia, the United States and in Europe. He draws his primary influence from the deep tradition of tenor saxophonists including Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Mark Turner to name just a few. He is also inspired by the music seeing and hearing the music of his peers and elders currently playing in New York and back in Sydney. Alistair has played across many NYC venues leading his own band at Bar Bayeux and playing as a sideman at Cafe Ornithology. He has been recorded on multiple albums as a sideman with New York and Sydney based artists while also releasing his debut self-titled album as a leader in 2023 and one other album as a co-leader; Dancing Waters- Anoesis (2022).

Alistair has over eight years of teaching experience in private studios, schools, small ensembles, big bands and concert bands. As a pianist, Johnston is classically trained in Australia completing his up to 8th grade AMEB classical piano while also bringing his pop and jazz expertise to his teaching. He believes in creating a fun and supportive learning environment and nurturing a curiosity in students to discover their own musical interests to explore while also giving them a strong foundation of the fundamentals of their instrument.