EP 145 - Mark Johnson (The Unfaithful Servants)
Mark has spent over 35 years working as a professional bassist across jazz, bluegrass, Americana, and roots music, and shares how those worlds inform his approach to time, tone, and musical support. They discuss the difference between learning music in school versus on the bandstand, the importance of community, and why restraint and listening matter more than flash. The second half of the episode dives into Unfaithful Servants’ 2025 album Fallen Angel, exploring its deliberate arrangements, instrumental tracks, melodic bass writing, arco textures, and wide emotional shifts. Ryan and Mark break down how the band blends tradition with sophisticated musicianship while always keeping the listener in mind. A thoughtful conversation about bass, band dynamics, and what it really means to serve the music