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Drummer
Jonas Johansen (b. 1962 in Copenhagen, Denmark) ranks
among the finest talents of European jazz drumming.
After
growing up in the creative milieu in a private school in Elsinore
(DK), and studying with classical percussion professor Bent
Lylloff (1976 – 79), he became a student of Copenhagen based
American drummer Ed Thigpen (1979 – 85). From 1985 – 86
he completed the Percussion program at The Dick Groove School of
Music in Los Angeles, studying with a.o. Peter Donald, David
Garibaldi and Luis Conte. And from 1987 until 1989 he studied at
The Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen.
1981
– 1986 Jonas played with different Denmark based (funk,
soul, rock, latin and fusion) groups. He also joined a Turkish
group ("Istanbul Express") and started playing with the
best Brazilian musicians living in Denmark. From 1987 he became
one of the most sought after young jazz drummers in Denmark.
1990
he became the drummer of The Danish Radio Big Band (now called
The Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra = DRJO) where he stayed until
1999. In those years the band did projects with, and accompanied
- international jazz stars such as: McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, Tom Harrell, Bob Brookmeyer, Toots Thielemanns,
Art Farmer, Hermeto Pascoal, Enrico Pieranunzi, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi, Jim McNeely, Mike Gibbs, Maria
Schneider, David Sanborn, Steve Swallow and Carla Bley. In 1999 he decided to quit DRJO, in order to
concentrate on his freelance career.
Since
1993 he has been playing with Danish world known bassist
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and became permanent member of
his trio with Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius in 1996.
In
1992 he formed his own band "Move" with a.o.
saxophonist Fredrik Lundin and Swedish bass player Lars
Danielsson, and the groups 2nd (and latest) CD "Please
Move", was Grammy nominated in Denmark 2000, in the
category "Jazz recording of the year".
Jonas
has also played with a.o.: Johnny Griffin, Renee Rosnes, Doug
Raney, Milt Jackson, Toninho Horta, Phil Woods, Monica
Zetterlund, Kenny Drew, Ernie Wilkins (and the Almost Big Band),
Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra, the WDR Big Band in
Köln, Nogenja Big Band in Stockholm, John Taylor, Eliane Elias and Chano Dominguez.
Jonas
received the Ben Webster Music Award in 1991.
Selected
Discography:
22 recordings with DRJO among them: Jens Winther & The
Danish Radio Big Band 1992 (Olufsen Records, DOCD 5167), DRJO
& Django Bates "Like Life" 1998 (Storyville
STCD 4221), Eliane Elias, Bob Brookmeyer & DRJO "Impulsive"
2000 (Stunt STUCD 00102).
5 recordings with NHØP, among them NHØP Trio feat. Renee
Rosnes "Friends Forever" 1995 (Milestone MCD
9269-2), NHØP "This Is All I Ask" 1998 (Verve
539 695-2).
As a leader: "Jonas Johansen MOVE" March
1995 (Music Mecca CD 1057-2) "Please Move Jonas
Johansen" April 1999 (Stunt Records STUCCD 19905)
(Grammy nominated in Denmark 2000).
October 2000
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