Birth name Bjorn John Johansen Role Musician Name Bjorn Johansen | Labels Poncajazz Records Origin Norway | |
Born 23 May 1940
Fredrikstad, Ostfold ( 1940-05-23 ) Occupation(s) Saxophonist and composer Instruments Saxophones (baritone, tenor, alto), clarinet and flute Died April 1, 1991, Fredrikstad, Norway Albums Take One, Portrait of a Norwegian Jazz Artist, Dear Henrik Similar People Ole Jacob Hansen, Egil Kapstad, Laila Dalseth, Einar Iversen, Magni Wentzel |
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.
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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 sentral on the Norwegian jazzscenes 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. Johansen ble minnet i Portrait of a norwegian jazz artist (2001), and on Bjørn Johansen in memoriam (2003). His compositions are published by Norsk Jazzforlag (2004).
He died, aged 61, in Oslo.
Honors
Soloalbums
Collaborative works
Songs
Think Of OneTake One
Midnight WaltzTake One
IndianaPortrait of a Norwegian Jazz Artist