Jens Ola Johansson[1] (born November 2, 1963 in Stockholm) is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist. He is noted as one of the first and most influential "shred" keyboardists, for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style.Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Gear 3 Studio albums 4 Related links 5 References
[edit] Biography
Johansson is son of Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson and brother of the heavy metal drummer Anders Johansson. He is highly influenced by classic Rock keyboardists like Don Airey, Eddie Jobson and Jon Lord.[2] In 1982, the classically trained Johansson left the jazz fusion band Slem and joined the Swedish metal band Silver Mountain, which also included Anders. In 1983 he left Sweden for California and joined guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen as a member of his band, Rising Force. Numerous records and world tours ensued and he stayed with Yngwie until 1989.[citation needed] Johansson also played with the band Dio between 1989 and 1990. Like Anders, he began an ongoing collaboration with Jonas Hellborg in 1989 which has resulted in several progressive and avant-garde recordings, including Dissident, Silent Run (an acoustic piano trio record with Ginger Baker on drums) and the hard core progressive fusion record, E.
In 1993, Johansson co-founded a progressive blues metal project, The Johansson Brothers, and recorded a self-titled record. In 1996, with a different line-up, they recorded another album, Sonic Winter, this time under the name "Johansson", with Yngwie Malmsteen guesting on guitar. The last Johansson record, The Last Viking, a more "European metal" oriented album, was released in 1999 with special guests Michael Romeo and Göran Edman.
Johansson has released several instrumental solo records such as Fjäderlösa Tvåfotingar, Ten Seasons (a piano solo album improvised in the Mark Kostabi gallery, New York), Heavy Machinery (with Anders and Allan Holdsworth) and Fission (with Anders, Shawn Lane and Mike Stern) and many collaborations with other artists, metal compilations and Berends Brothers' band Mastermind.
He co-founded Heptagon Records to distribute his own recordings and that of other musicians, such as guitarist Benny Jansson and bassist Magnus Rosén.
Johansson auditioned for Dream Theater after Kevin Moore left the band in 1994[3] but due to many delays by the band in making a decision he instead joined Finnish Power metal band Stratovarius. Since 1995 he has remained in Stratovarius, and still releasing solo albums and appearing as a guest or session musician in other projects.
Jens is a self-confessed computer nerd, admitting to have started on an Atari ST (which he still owns), and having coded software in C, as well as his own website in Perl.[4] [edit] Gear This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)
He has used many types of keyboards and synthesizers throughout his career. Amongst his favourites are the Korg Polysix, Yamaha DX7 (from the Rising Force times to present), the Oberheim Matrix Series and the Roland JV-1080. Johansson is also fond of the Hammond Organ and used Kurzweil synthesizers. Johansson is a computer fan and long time Steinberg programs user (like Cubase). An example of his interest in computers is his record "Fission", which is replete with special effects and sound experimentations. For his famous lead sound he uses Morley JD-10 as distortion. [edit] Studio albumsTítle Label Year Silver Mountain: Shakin' Brains 1983 Yngwie Malmsteen: Rising Force Polydor 1984 Yngwie Malmsteen: Marching Out Polydor 1985 Yngwie Malmsteen: Trilogy Polydor 1986 Erik Borelius: Fantasy 1988 Yngwie Malmsteen: Odyssey Polydor 1988 Yngwie Malmsteen: Trial By Fire Polydor 1989 Dio: Lock Up the Wolves Warner Bros. Records 1990 Deadline: Dissident 1991 Stephen Ross: Midnight Drive 1991 Anders Johansson: Shu-Tka 1992 Ginger Baker: Unseen Rain 1992 RAF: Ode To A Tractor 1992 Shining Path: No Other World 1992 Jonas Hellborg Group: E 1993 Snake Charmer: Smoke And Mirrors 1993 Dave Nerge's Bulldog: The Return Of Mr. Nasty 1994 Robert Blennerhed: Seven 1994 Smoke On The Water - A Tribute 1994 The Johansson Brothers 1994 Tony MacAlpine: Premonition 1994 Anders Johansson, Jens Johansson and Allan Holdsworth: Heavy Machinery 1996 Yngwie Malmsteen: Inspiration 1996 Anders Johansson: Red Shift 1997 Johansson: Sonic Winter 1997 Itä-Saksa: Let's Kompromise 1998 Snake Charmer: Backyard Boogaloo 1998 Fission 1998 Benny Jansson: Flume Ride 1999 Johansson: The Last Viking 1999 Mastermind: Excelsior 1999 Mastermind: Angels Of The Apocalypse 2000 instein: Einstein Too 2001 La Leyenda Continua - Tributo A Rata Blanca 2001 Silver Mountain: Breakin' Chains 2001 Andy West With Rama: Rama 1 2002 Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One: Space Metal 2002 Benny Jansson: Save The World 2002 Aina: Days Of Rising Doom 2003 Barilari 2003 Sonata Arctica: Winterheart's Guild Spinefarm Records 2003 Mastermind: To The World Beyond 2004 Spastic Ink: Ink Compatible 2004 Kamelot: The Black Halo 2005 HammerFall: No Sacrifice, No Victory 2009 Stratovarius: Episode Noise Records 1996 Stratovarius: Visions Noise Records 1997 Stratovarius: Destiny Noise Records 1998 Stratovarius: Infinite Nuclear Blast 2000 Stratovarius: Elements, Pt. 1 Nuclear Blast 2003 Stratovarius: Elements, Pt. 2 Nuclear Blast 2003 Stratovarius: Stratovarius Sanctuary 2005 Stratovarius: Polaris Edel Music 2009 Avantasia: Angel Of Babylon 2010
