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Jerry Johansson

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.

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Album Review

Jerry Johansson Quartet: House Of Hope

Read "House Of Hope" reviewed by James Pearse


The seventh leader (or co-leader) recording, House Of Hope (Kning Disk, 2012), is another bold step forward in an already varied musical journey for Swedish guitarist Jerry Johansson. After exploring rock fusion, Indian ragas and Swedish folk, Johansson evokes the spirit of West Coast jazz from the 1970s on House of Hope.Motivated early on in his career by George Harrison's foray into Indian composition and rhythms on late-period Beatles albums, Johansson began studying classical Indian music and the ...

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Recording

New CD: Jerry Johansson Octet - Circles and Changes

New CD: Jerry Johansson Octet - Circles and Changes

Source: All About Jazz

Shortly after his highly acclaimed and warmly praised cd release Book of dreams (Kning Disk KD058), composer, and for this new release, guitar player, Jerry Johansson comes up with a surprise in his sleeve; a brand new composition for guitar and jazz octet.

Composed, played, executed and produced by Jerry Johansson himself and, for this occasion, his octet; a fine ensemble consisting of eight legendary Swedish jazz men!

After having explored Indian-Swedish themes and states with his sitar and a ...

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House of Hope I

From: Jerry Johansson Quartet - House...
By Jerry Johansson

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