Phillip Johnston, born January 22, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American saxophonist and composer. He moved to New York City early in his career and formed relationships with musicians such as John Zorn and Joel Forrester. In the 1980s, he co-founded The Microscopic Septet, releasing their debut album Take the Z Train in 1983. Throughout the decade, Johnston led several groups, including Big Trouble and Transparent Quartet, and collaborated with artists like Mikel Rouse and Kitty Brazelton. He also began composing for film, theatre, dance, and concert halls. In 2005, he moved to Sydney, Australia, continuing his musical career while collaborating with local artists such as Lloyd Swanton and Chris Abrahams. Johnston's notable works include the opera Young Goodman Brown (1995) and the multimedia performance Wordless! (2013). His discography includes albums like Music for Films (1998), Rub Me the Wrong Way (2004), and Diggin' Bones (2018).
