Bjørn John Johansen (23 May 1940 – 6 May 2002) was a Norwegian jazz musician (baritone, tenor & alto saxophones, clarinet and flute), known from a number of recordings and international cooperation. He has been one of the most influential Norwegian saxophonists of all time and has been the inspiration for a generations of musicians, among them Jan Garbarek.
Career Johansen was born in Fredrikstad, Norway. Strongly influenced by the music of John Coltrane, he joined orchestras led by Gunnar Brostigen, Kjell Karlsen (1956–59), Lars Sandsgaard, Pete Brown, and Arild Wikstrøm (1961). In addition to playing with Karin Krog, Bernt Rosengren, George Gruntz, Frode Thingnæs, Egil Kapstad, Helge Hurum/Thorleif Østereng/«Radiostorbandet» (1966–90), EBU Big Band (73), Laila Dalseth, Bjørn Alterhaug, and within the «Fatah Morgana Quartet».
He was central in the Norwegian jazz scene within bands like his own Kapstad/Johansen Quartet, including Bjørn Alterhaug (bass) and Ole Jacob Hansen (drums), releasing the album Friends (1980), and Bjørn Johansen Quartet, including Carl Morten Iversen (bass), Ole Jacob Hansen (drums) and Erling Aksdal (piano), releasing Dear Henrik (1984). Johansen also released the album Take one featuring Cedar Walton (1987), that was awarded Spellemannprisen 1987. His compositions are published by Norsk Jazzforlag (2004).
He died, aged 61, in Oslo.
Honors Buddyprisen 1962 «Statens arbeidsstipend» 1981 Spellemannprisen 1987 in the class Jazz, for the album Take one Gammleng-prisen 1997 in the class Jazz
Discography
Soloalbums 1986: Dear Henrik (Gemini Music) 1987: Take One (Odin Records), feat. Cedar Walton Trio 1990: Some Other Time (), with Laila Dalseth, Bjørn Alterhaug, Egil Kapstad & Frode Thingnæs 2001: Portrait of a Norwegian Jazz Artist (Gemini Records)
Collaborative works Within «Public Enemies» 1965: Elevate Me 1966: From Public Enemies Without Love 1966: Sunny (), feat. Karin Krog
With Egil Kapstad 1968: Syner (Norsk Jazzforum), with Choir & Orchestra 1979: Til jorden (Pan Records 2005), feat. the poet Rolf Jacobsen 1980: Friends (Hot Club Records), within Kapstad/Johansen Quartet 1994: Remembrance, within Egil Kapstad Trio
Within «Blix Band» 1997: På en lyserød sky 1999: Texas
With other projects 1963: Metropol Jazz: Jazz Sounds From Norway 1967: Rosemalt Sound, with Alf Cranner 1974: Syng, klapp & swing - Grammofonplate med barn og Harald Gundhus (Dyklestiker Grannofon 2005) 1976: Peacemaker (Gemini Records 2003), with Per Husby Septett 1980: Hva er det de vil? Live fra ABC-Teateret, with Odd Børretzen & Alf Cranner 1980: Jargong vålereng''', with Rolf Søder 1983: Norsk Jazz 1960-19801984: Epilog1986: The Norwegian Radio Big Band meets Bob Florence (Odin Records), with Bob Florence 1988: The Jazz Sampler1988: Alfred Janson1989: The Odin Sampler - Jazz out of Norway1990: Jazzpoem, Vol. 1, with Ola Calmeyer 1991: The Jazz Sampler Vol. 21991: Constellations (Odin Records), with Bjørn Alterhaug 1993: Norske bilder - Sounds and Visions of Norway1993: Med lyset på, within «Norsk Utflukt» 1996: Close Erase, within «Close Erase» 1996:: Mr. Swingstang, within «Mr. Swingstang» 1996: I livd av blå syrin, within «Busserullen» 1997: Rett opp fra elva, within «Sagene Ring» 1997: Andre bilder Vigleik Storaas Trio 1998: Odd Børretzens mest ålreite (Bare Bra Musikk) 1998: Imagic, with Niels Præstholm & «Embla Nordic Project» 1999: Oslo Jazz Circle 50 år - Jubileumskonsert 1998 - Vol. 22000:: One of a Kind, with Laila Dalseth 2001: Cool, Kløver & Dixie - Jazz in Norway Vol. 32003: Bjørn Johansen in Memoriam (Hot Club Records) 2003: Turning Pages - Jazz in Norway vol. 42003: 50 beste fra 40 år, with Alf Cranner 2005: Jazz Collection 12007: Spectre: The Unreleased Works 1971-1982 (Plastic Strip), with Helge Hurum 2008: Unreleased Works 1969-1979 (Plastic Strip), with Christian Reim 2010: Our Buddy'', with Ola Calmeyer
References
External links Bjørn Johansen Biografi on Norsk Musikkinformasjon Bjørn Johansen Pictures on Norsk jazzarkiv Poncajazz Records Bjørn John Johansen on Store Norske Leksikon