Drummer, bandleader, conductor, songwriter and more, Roger Johansen (b.1972) is known to be one of the swingiest jazz drummers in Norway. Inspired by drummers like Jack DeJohnette, Philly Joe Jones and Billy Hart to name but a few, Johansen has been a first call drummer for more than 25 years. He currently lives and works in Tverlandet outside Bodø in the northern part of Norway. He returned back home to his roots after 20 years outside Bodø, 12 of them in Oslo as a freelance drummer/producer. Formally educated in Cultural Management from the University of Stavanger and not in drumming, Roger Johansen led Østnorsk Jazzsenter for 2 years, been a producer and project manager at Rikskonsertene for more than 5 years, he has been county director of cultural affairs (fylkeskultursjef) in Oppland for 2 years, and is now head of program and events at Stormen library in Bodø.
As a solo artist Johansen released his first album «Evening Songs» (Taurus Records/Musikklosen) in the summer of 2005, an album for which Johansen have received very nice reviews. The band was Marit Sandvik, vocals, Atle Nymo, tenorsax, Jon Eberson, gitar and Ole Morten Vågan, bass. «World Of Emily» (Inner Ear) was his second release as a solo-artist, in 2007, this time added to the band the talent of pianist Helge Lien and bass player Sondre Meisfjord. His third album was called «Fine Together» (Inner Ear) in 2010, and featured the swedish bass-legend Georg Riedel, together with trumpeter Tore Johansen, barytone saxplayer John Pål Inderberg and the swedish jazz piano great Lars Jansson. Roger Johansens album number four came in 2014 and is called «On The Up.»(Inner Ear) The band was Marit Sandvik, vocals, Atle Nymo, tenorsax, Jon Eberson, gitar, Rob Waring, vibraphone, and Bjørn Kjellemyr, bass.
Johansen have done one-nighers, recordings, festival gigs and tours with musicians such as Slide Hampton (US), Bob Mintzer, Hal Galper (US), Randy Johnston (US), Larry Vuckovich (US), Barbara Morrison (US), Herb Geller (US), George Garzone (US), Anders Jormin (SWE), Cæcilie Norbye (DK), Marie Bergman (SWE), Lars Jansson (SWE), John Taylor (UK), Karin Krog, John Surman (UK), to name but a few. Tours and projects in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Malaysia, India, United States and Canada, and has played drums on many albums as a sideman for other artist.
Since 2014 musical director for Bodø Big Band. (Photo of Roger: Brynjar Erdahl)