Born: September 1, 1974 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Jerry Johansson: guitar, sitar
Jerry Johansson started out his musical journey some distant years ago in the Swedish city of Varberg, then as a guitar player and composer in various rock- and jazz-groups. After having had a minor revelation when experiencing a George Harrison-composition on a Beatles-album; an overwhelmed Jerry realised that the point of no return had finally arrived. He immediately began studying the classical Indian raga and the world of the sitar on an advanced level, with a most serious approach. This newly found universe of his does not only need highly concentrated and daily practise, but also requires an ascetical way of living and a humble approach to the world at large.
Sitar master Roop Verma appears, himself a former student of master Ravi Shankar; and he takes Jerry under his wings, so to speak, and Jerry becomes his pupil. Jerry practises various Indian modal scales and ways of thinking and plays and plays, and in time reaches the innermost soul and spirit of the classical Indian raga. The open mind of Jerry assimilates impressions and ideas, and the sitar player Jerry Johansson moves on from there to here; from a student to finally becoming a sitar master performer himself.
In 2005, Jerry was commissioned to write a piece for sitar and a string quartet from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 10 months later, the world premiere took place in Hagakyrkan in Göteborg, and shortly thereafter released on cd by Kning Disk (KD008).
Jerry Johansson´s next composition for sitar, tambura and string quartet was called Next Door Conversation. This time, a santour is also added to the musical texture. Next Door Conversation was also released on another critically acclaimed cd on Kning Disk in 2007 (KD038).
The spring of 2009 saw the release of Jerry´s composition “Book of Dreams”. Jerry on sitar, a wind ensemble and also a string quartet from the Symphony Orchestra of Gothenburg.
In autumn 2008, Jerry Johansson premiered his first larger work for jazz octet; “Circles and Changes”, performed by a group of legendary Swedish jazzers with Jerry on guitar. This event was also released on a critically acclaimed cd on Kning Disk in early 2009.
Productive as ever; in February 2010, “Construction”, a jazz suite, was delivered to the eagerly awaiting jazz world in one of the most cold and snowy days of the winter 2010. The brave few who dared to ignore the weather and journey to the concert hall was highly rewarded. A new classic saw the light of the day!
Here and now we are in the NOW of May 2012, and here for you one and all, dear jazz lovers; a brand new record by the Jerry Johansson Quartet: House of Hope.
Jerry continues to move freely as an adventurous musical earth-traveller in the best of senses; combining Indian ways of looking at the world with bare Swedish feet, both deeply dipped in jazz, in the glowing grass of the sparkling world known as the ever-present now!
Jerry Johansson and a String Quartet from Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Kning Disk
2006
Tracks: Sitar and string Quartet No. 1 - Kalyan; Sitar and string Quartet No. 2 - Kirwani.
Personnel: Jerry Johansson: sitar, Camilla Wahlberg: tambura, Pelle Appelin: violin, Thord Svedlund: violin, Per Högberg: viola, Paula Gustafsson, cello.
Next Door Conversation
Kning Disk
2007
Tracks: Next Door Conversation Part I; Next Door Conversation Part II.
Personnel: Jerry Johansson: sitar, Farivar Khosravi, santour, Camilla Wahlberg: tambura, Pelle Appelin: violin, Thord Svedlund: violin, Per Högberg: viola, Paula Gustafsson, cello.
Book of Dreams
Kning Disk
2008
Tracks: Book of Dreams.
Personnel: Jerry Johansson: sitar, Kenneth Wihlborg: flute and alto flute, Mårten Larsson: oboe and oboe d’amore, Urban Claesson: clarinet, Arne Nilsson: bassoon, Pelle Appelin: violin, Thord Svedlund: violin, Per Högberg: viola, Paula Gustafsson, cello.
Circles and Changes
Kning Disk
2009
Tracks: Circles and Changes Part I; Circles and Changes Part II; Circles and Changes Part III; Circles and Changes Part IV; Circles and Changes Part V.
Personnel: Jerry Johansson: Electric guitar, Magnus Nilsson: Alto saxophone and clarinet, Lars Elf: Tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Leif Selhag: Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone and flute, Rune Leander: Baritone saxophone and soprano saxophone, Stefan Johnsson: Trumpet, Jörgen Svensson: Double bass, Anders Winald: Drums.
House of Hope
Kning Disk
2012
Tracks: House of Hope I; House of Hope II; House of Hope III; House of Hope IV; House of Hope V.
Personnel: Jerry Johansson: Electric guitar, Mark Johnson: vibraphone, Jörgen Svensson: Double bass, Anders Winald: Drums.
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