About Per Oddvar Johansen
Born 1968. Per Oddvar Johansen is a Norwegian jazz musician, composer and drummer.
Per Oddvar Johansen (born 1 March 1968) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (drummer), most recognized for his work with Trygve Seim, Christian Wallumrød, The Source, Solveig Slettahjell and Vigleik Storaas, but has also been awarded the Spellemannprisen five times.
Career Johansen was born in Oslo, where he played in several rock bands before attending the Jazz Program at Trondheim Music Conservatory (1989–92). There he started cooperations with among others the Bodega Band (1990–92, with the record En flik av ... in 1992), Airamero from 1990, Trio Midt-Norge, Piggy Bop from 1991, Vigleik Storaas Trio and the Trondheim Kunstorkester. He also started a long-lasting cooperation with Trygve Seim, among others in The Source, and has given profound marks on the Norwegian Jazz scene. He put his drums in for the band Tre Små Kinesere (1992) too.
When returning to Bærum (1992) he still continued many of these projects, in addition to performing with artists like Torbjørn Sunde, Jan Erik Kongshaug, the quartet TINGeLING, tubaist Lars Andreas Haug, Solveig Slettahjell's "Slow Motion Orchestra", Kjersti Stubø, Petter Wettre, Jacob Young, 1300 Oslo, Zanussi Five, with Kjetil Møster/Per Zanussi Trio, the singer Eldbjørg Raknes and the guitarist Hans Mathisen. In 1994 he toured with the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and performed with the rock band Motorpsycho at Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 1995.
Johansen together with Petter Wettre was rewarded Spellemannprisen 2000 in the class jazz for the album The Only Way to Travel, a prize he also received twice as a member of Vigleik Storaas Trio. He has released four records with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Christian Wallumrød in the trio Close Erase (from 1995). He has also given lectures in drumming at University of Oslo and Norges Musikkhøgskole.
Honors Spellemannprisen 1995 in the class jazz, for the album Bilder withVigleik Storaas Trio Spellemannprisen 1997 in the class jazz, for the album Andre Bilder with Vigleik Storaas Trio Spellemannprisen 2000 in the class jazz, for the album The Only Way to Travel with Petter Wettre Spellemannprisen 2004 in the class jazz, for the album Silver with Solveig Slettahjell Spellemannprisen 2005 in the class jazz, for the album Quiet Songs with Hans Mathisen Spellemannprisen 2014 in the class contemporary music, for the album Outstairs with Christian Wallumrød Ensemble
Discography (in selection)
Solo albums 2008: Ferme Solus – This is My Music (Euridice Turn Left) 2014: Solo at MIR – Blow Out! Oslo 3 December 2013 (Bandcamp) 2016: Let’s Dance (Edition Records)
Collaborative works With Trond Bjertnes and Frode Barth 1994: Egentlig (Mind The Gap)
With The Source 1994: Olemanns kornett (Curling Legs) 1995: The Source: of Christmas (Curling Legs) 2002: The Source & Different Cikadas (ECM Records) 2005: The Source: of Christmas Live (Grappa Music) 2006: The Source (ECM Records) 2013: The Source: of Summer (Grappa Music)
With Jan Erik Kongshaug 1998: The Other World (ACT Music) 2003: All These Years (Ponca Jazz Records)
With Vigleik Storaas trio 1995: Bilder (Curling Legs), was awarded Spellemannprisen 1997: Andre Bilder (Curling Legs), was awarded Spellemannprisen 2002: Subsonic (Curling Legs) 2007: Now (Inner Ear) 2012: Epistel no 5 (Inner Ear)
Duo with Petter Wettre 2000: The only way to travel (BP/Tuba!), was awarded Spellemannprisen
With Close Erase 1995: Close Erase (NorCD) 1999: No.2 (NorCD) 2002: Dance This (BP) 2006: Sport Rocks (Jazzaway Records) 2010: R.I.P (Plastic Strip Press)
With 1300 Oslo 2001: Live in the North (Curling Legs)
With Kjersti Stubø 2001: My Shining Hour (Blue Jersey)
With Solveig Slettahjell 2001: Slow Motion Orchestra (Curling Legs) 2003: Silver (Curling Legs) 2005: Pixiedust (Curling Legs) 2006: Good Rain (ACT Music, Curling Legs) 2007: Domestic Songs (ACT Music, Curling Legs) 2009: Tarpan Seasons (Universal Music)
With Trygve Seim 2001: Different Rivers (ECM Records) 2004: Sangam (ECM Records)
With Eldbjørg Raknes 1997: TINGeLING (NorCD) 2002: So Much Depends on a Red Wheel Barrow (Platearbeiderne), commissioned work for Vossajazz 2004: Många röster talar (Bergland records) 2006: I live suddenly (MYrecordings)
With Christian Wallumrød Ensemble 2001: Sofienberg Variations (ECM Records) 2004: A Year From Easter (ECM Records) 2007: The Zoo Is Far (ECM Records) 2009: Fabula Suite Lugano (ECM Records) 2013: Outstairs (ECM Records) 2013: Kurzam and Fulger (Hubro Music)
With HÃ¥vard Wiik 2011: Postures (Jazzland Records)
With Daniel Rorke 2011: San'an (Saturn Musikk)
With Adam Baldych & Helge Lien Trio 2015: Bridges (ACT Music) 2017: Brothers (ACT Music)
With Mette Henriette 2015: Mette Henriette (ECM Records)
With Ayumi Tanaka Trio 2016: Memento (AMP Music & Records)
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Important facts
People in Per Oddvar Johansen's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Per Oddvar Johansen's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Per Oddvar Johansen?
Norwegian jazz drummer
When was Per Oddvar Johansen born?
Per Oddvar Johansen was born on 1 March 1968 in Oslo.
What is Per Oddvar Johansen's occupation?
Per Oddvar Johansen is a jazz musician, composer and drummer.
What nationality is Per Oddvar Johansen?
Per Oddvar Johansen is Norwegian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Per Oddvar Johansen
· DBpedia: Per Oddvar Johansen
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Per Oddvar Johansen. https://biography.guide/per-oddvar-johansen/
MLA: "Per Oddvar Johansen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/per-oddvar-johansen/.
Chicago: "Per Oddvar Johansen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/per-oddvar-johansen/.
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