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Bjørn Johansen (musician)

Bjørn Johansen
Birth name Bjørn John Johansen
Born (1940-05-23)23 May 1940
Fredrikstad, Østfold
Origin Norway
Died 6 May 2002(2002-05-06) (aged 61)
Fredrikstad, Østfold
Occupation(s) Saxophonist and composer
Instruments Saxophones (baritone, tenor, alto), clarinet and flute
Labels Poncajazz Records

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.

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).


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