Nils-Olav Johansen

Nils-Olav Johansen (born 12 April 1966 in Bjugn Municipality, Norway) is a major Norwegian entertainer and jazz musician (guitar and vocals), known from several recordings and as orchestra leader. He is with Jarle Vespestad (drums) and Stian Carstensen (many instruments), central members of the Balkan-jazz orchestra Farmers Market.

Johansen is from Sør-Trøndelag, where he eventually moved to Heimdal. His father was a sailor, and he had an early contact with Hawaiian music. This influence, from the floating string sound, has followed him throughout his musical career.

Career He was a graduate of jazz studies at Trøndelag Conservatory of Music 1986–88. In Trondheim, he joined several groups that arose out of student life at NTNU, such as Close Enough (1987–88) and the Pentateuch (from 1989, later called Blix Band). Since 1992, he has been a regular member of three major orchestras: Farmers Market, Frode Fjellheims Jazz Joik Ensemble and "Storytellers",

Johansen has been, along with Stian Carstensen, one of the profiles in the band Farmers Market. It impresses him with virtuosity and humor. a collaboration that ended in 2004, when the tsunami struck Thailand, where Køhn was on vacation. In 2005, he became a permanent member of the Anglo-Norwegian band Food.

Discography

Solo albums My Deal (2007, Jazzaway), with: Andreas Bye, Mats Eilertsen and Reidar Skår)

Collaborative works With Køhn/Johansen Sextet Woman's Got to Have It (1999, Real), with Sigurd Køhn, Roy Powell, Harald Johnsen, Erlend Gjerde & Jarle Vespestad 2012: Slav to the Rhythm (Division)

With Frode Fjellheims Jazz Joik Ensemble 1994: Saajve dans Under the name Transjoik 2004: Uja nami 2005: Bewafá

With Storytellers 1994: Enjoy Storytellers (Curling Legs)

With Blix Band 1989: Big Bambus (1989/2001) 1996: På en lyserød sky 1997: Pinseria (1997/2010) 1998: Texas

With Håvard Lund 1995: Letters

With Niels Præstholm & Embla Nordic Project in København 1997: Imagic

With Eldbjørg Raknes' TINGeLING 1997: TINGeLING 2002: So much depends upon a red wheel barrow, commissioned to Vossajazz (Platearbeiderne) 2006: I live suddenly (My Recordings)

With Jon Balke 1998: Saturation

With Solveig Slettahjell 2001: Slow motion orchestra

With Christina Bjordal 2003: Where dreams begin 2009: Warrior of light

Within Børre Dalhaug's "Bigbandblast" 2004: Bigbandblast! (Real Records)

With Eirik Hegdal 2004: Within Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

With The Core 2005: The Core

With Trondheim Jazz Orchestra 2008: Wood and water 2009: What if