Bjørn Johansen

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». 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 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