Mark Johnson’s Banjo playing on his new CD “Bridging the Gap” generates listener interest by it’s subtle beauty- a beauty stemming from note selection that will have listeners effortlessly humming along with each tune before they even know it 
Eddie Collins, BLUEGRASS NOW MAGAZINE, NOV. 1997

Mark Johnson has advanced the five-string banjo into uncharted territory by incorporating complex runs and melodies that many of his contemporaries would have difficulty even keeping up with. Call it bluegrass or call it “CLAWGRASS”, I call it GREAT MUSIC!  “Bridging the Gap” is a momentous musical happening that clearly establishes Mark Johnson as a musical force to be reckoned with. Highly recommended!  
Les McIntyre - BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED MAGAZINE, JAN. 1998

Mark Johnson plays his banjo’s with a unique mixture of claw-hammer style and three-finger style that is neither old-timey nor bluegrass…and it sounds GREAT! 
FLATPICKING GUITAR MAGAZINE, JAN/FEB 1998

Mark Johnson’s  “Bridging the Gap” CD  “is one of my twelve favorite CDs for the year 1997”  
Don Nitchie- BANJO NEWSLETTER, JAN. 1998

WOW! That pretty much says it all. I just received the new Mark Johnson and Clawgrass CD album and it sounds GREAT!   The vocals and instrumentation on each of the respective cuts are a pleasant blend of all that is good in Bluegrass today. I just keep playing this CD over and over and over again. There is a lot of energy in this album from start to finish. It’s definitely a keeper!  
Bob Cherry, CYBERGRASS INTERNET MAGAZINE, JULY, 1997

The first time I heard Mark’s playing, I said to myself “yep, absolutely!!” He has brought to the world of bluegrass a gentle reminder of where this all came from. Mark is truly musical. His phrasing and timing are impeccable and lets not forget the TONE we keep hearing about. This latest CD is more of the Mark Johnson style I’ve come to too love. If you don’t like this CD than pass it on, ‘cause I guarantee you, somebody out there will love it as much as I do. 
HERB PEDERSEN, Desert Rose Band, The Old and in the Way Band and The Laurel Canyon Ramblers Band, JUNE, 1997

Mark Johnson is a solid banjo player backed by fluid fiddle, mandolin, guitar  bass and great vocals. Johnson’s claw-hammer style perfectly fits the traditional songs as well as the four beautiful original cuts on this follow-up project to his debut CD with The Rice Brothers, “Clawgrass”. A must for contemporary, claw-hammer banjo players and for any fan of bluegrass music.  
DIRTY LINEN, THE MAGAZINE of FOLK and WORLD MUSIC, Issue #73, Dec./Jan. 97’/98’

Other Quotes & Comments 

Mark Johnson describes his “Clawgrass” style of  playing the banjo as “a mixture of bluegrass, folk, old time, and progressive acoustic claw-hammer.” Whatever the name, this project is one that will shatter and expand any preconceived notions the listener has ever had about claw-hammer banjo. On 12 uniquely arranged and well produced original and traditional cuts, Mark is joined by Tony & Wyatt Rice/guitars, Larry Rice/mandolin, Jason Thomas & Tammy Murray/fiddles, Ronnie Rice/bass and James Tucker/dobro. 
INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 
Jan/Feb., 1995 

On this CD “Clawgrass”,  Mark Johnson with the Rice Brothers and Friends, we hear almost a missing link between Bluegrass and old time  mountain music. This CD will fit into the collection of almost any bluegrass fan, whether their tastes run to the hot and progressive branch of the music or the more traditional side.
BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED MAGAZINE, March, 1995

“Mark Johnson is an Extraordinary talent and his music is authentic. The sound speaks for itself.” 
TONY RICE

If you can somehow imagine claw-hammer banjo  played with the complexity and precision necessary to make a proper blend with the caliber of players with whom Mark Johnson associates here, then you just may be sufficiently impressed enough to include a copy of this CD in your collection.
BLUEGRASS NOW MAGAZINE, July/Aug 1995

Every now and than a killer banjo player that nobody has ever heard of comes wandering out of the woods and blows your socks off.  Mark Johnson is his name and your going to hear a lot more of him in the months and years to come. Mark’s CD is  called “CLAWGRASS” and it is absolutely a knockout!  Every player should have one.
BANJO NEWSLETTER COVER STORY & REVIEW, July

In the world of claw-hammer banjo some people are pluckers and some people are players. Mark Johnson is definitely a “PLAYER” and the playing is top notch on this recording. “ Wonderful Musicianship and style!”
DAVID HOLT

Mention the names Scruggs, Reno, Uncle Dave Macon, Grampa Jones, or Ralph Stanley, and distinctly different banjo styles come to mind. Imagine for one minute the back-up playing of Sonny Osborne, the drive of J.D. Crowe or Terry Baucom, the melodic genius of Bill Keith or Alan Munde, the tastefulness of Bill Emerson or Tony Trishka and a specific, identifiable sound will again be suggested in each case.  On the banjo, one name  certain to be remembered is Mark Johnson  and his “Clawgrass” -- a hybrid of clawhammer technique with a lead style and drive of modern, Tony Rice-influenced bluegrass.               
BLUEGRASS NOW MAGAZINE, May/June '96