Jens Johansson (born November 2, 1963 in Stockholm) is a world-renowned Swedish keyboardist and pianist in the power metal-genre. He is noted as one of the first and most influential "shred" keyboardists, for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style. A picture of Jens Johansson. November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...   (IPA: ; UN/LOCODE: SE STO) is the capital of Sweden, and consequently the site of its Government and Parliament as well as the residence of the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... It has been suggested that True metal be merged into this article or section. ... Shred guitar refers to a guitar playing style where technical proficiency is used to maximize (and sometimes specifically demonstrate) speed, often in a neoclassical framework. ... Neoclassicism in music was a 20th century development, particularly popular in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers drew inspiration from music of the 18th century, though some of the inspiring canon was drawn as much from the Baroque period as the Classical period - for this reason... Bitches Brew (1970) by Miles Davis is considered the most influential early fusion album. ...

Biography

Johansson is son of the well-known Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson and brother of the heavy metal drummer Anders Johansson. 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. 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 well-received 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. Jan Johansson (September 16, 1931 – November 9, 1968) was a Swedish jazz pianist. ... Anders Johansson (born May 25, 1962 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish musician. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Yngwie J. Malmsteen (born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, June 30, 1963) is a guitarist from Sweden who achieved widespread acclaim in the 1980s due to his technical proficiency and fusion of classical music elements with heavy rock guitar. ... Rising Force is the debut album released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in 1984. ... Dio is a heavy metal band led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in October 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Jonas Hellborg (born June 7, 1958) is a Swedish bass guitarist. ... Progressive music is the name given to a certain approach to musical composition that has been applied to several different music genres. ... A work similar to Marcel Duchamps Fountain Avant garde (written avant-garde) is a French phrase, one of many French phrases used by English speakers. ... Peter Edward Ginger Baker (born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, South London) is an English drummer who gained fame as a member of the Graham Bond Organisation (GBO) and Cream from 1966 until 1968. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ...

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. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that typically follows a twelve-bar structure. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Michael James Romeo (born March 6, 1968) is the guitarist and a founding member of the progressive metal group Symphony X. Michael began playing guitar at age 14 and takes his influences from a wide of range sources including Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Al Di Meola, J.S...

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. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... NY redirects here. ... Allan Holdsworth (born August 6, 1946 in Bradford, West Yorkshire) is a British jazz guitarist and composer. ... Shawn Lane (March 21, 1963 – September 26, 2003) was an American guitarist and composer. ... Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Look up mastermind in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

He co-founded Heptagon Records to distribute his own recordings and that of other musicians, such as guitarist Benny Jansson and bassist Magnus Rosén. Magnus Rosén is a Swedish musician, born 1963 in Gothenburg, is the bassist of swedish band Hammerfall. ...

Johansson auditioned for Dream Theater after Kevin Moore left the band in 1994. Despite his technical prowess, Johansson was not accepted into the band. Some sources state^{[citation needed]} that if he had joined he would not have been allowed to participate in the songwriting process until the band was certain Johansson was suitable. Apparently, Johansson lost his interest in the keyboardist spot after this.^{[citation needed]} Dream Theater is a progressive metal band formed by three students at the Berklee College of Music in 1985. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

He joined the power metal band Stratovarius in 1995 and has remained since, still releasing solo albums and appearing as a guest or session musician in other projects. It has been suggested that True metal be merged into this article or section. ... Stratovarius is a Finnish Neoclassical/power metal band, known for its melodic approach to the genre. ...

Gear

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. 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. A synthesizer (or synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument designed to produce electronically generated sound, using techniques such as additive, subtractive, FM, physical modelling synthesis, phase distortion, or Scanned synthesis. ... Korg Corporation is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments. ... The Korg Polysix is a six voice programmable polyphonic synthesizer released by Korg in 1981. ... Yamaha redirects here. ... The Yamaha DX7 was a synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986, based on FM synthesis. ... Rising Force is the debut album released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in 1984. ... Oberheim Electronics is a company, founded in 1973 by Tom Oberheim (a former design engineer at Maestro), which manufactured audio synthesizers and a variety of other electronic musical instruments. ... Roland Corporation TYO: 7944 is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A BlueGene supercomputer cabinet. ... Steinberg is a German musical equipment and software company. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Discography

With Stratovarius

• Episode (1996)
• Visions (1997)
• Visions of Europe (1998)
• Destiny (1998)
• Infinite (2000)
• Intermission (2001)
• Elements, Pt. 1 (2003)
• Elements, Pt. 2 (2003)
• Stratovarius (2005)

Episode is an album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Visions is an album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Visions of Europe is a live album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Destiny is an album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Infinite is an album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Intermission is a compilation album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ... Elements, Pt. ... Elements, Pt. ... Stratovarius is the latest album by the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius. ...

With Yngwie Malmsteen

• Rising Force (1984)
• Marching Out (1985)
• Trilogy (1986)
• Odyssey (1988)
• Trial By Fire (1989)
• Inspiration (1996)

Rising Force is the debut album released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in 1984. ... Marching Out is an album by Yngwie J. Malmsteen which was released in 1985. ... Trilogy is the third album released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in 1986 by the label Polydor. ... With his third singer in four albums, Odyssey was released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen in March of 1988. ... Trial By Fire is a live album released by Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in October of 1989. ... Inspiration is an album released by guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen issued in 1996. ...

With Anders Johansson

• Anders Johansson: Shu-Tka (1992)
• The Johansson Brothers (1994)
• Anders Johansson, Jens Johansson and Allan Holdsworth: Heavy Machinery (1996)
• Anders Johansson: Red Shift (1997)
• Johansson: Sonic Winter (1997)
• Johansson: The Last Viking (1999)

With other artists

• Silver Mountain: Shakin' Brains (1983)
• Erik Borelius: Fantasy (1988)
• Dio: Lock Up The Wolves (1990)
• Deadline: Dissident (1991)
• Stephen Ross: Midnight Drive (1991)
• 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)
• Tony MacAlpine: Premonition (1994)
• Itä-Saksa: Let's Kompromise (1998)
• Snake Charmer: Backyard Boogaloo (1998)
• Benny Jansson: Flume Ride (1999)
• Blackmore's Night: Under A Violet Moon (1999)
• Mastermind [USA]: Excelsior! (1999)
• Roland Grapow: Kaleidoscope (1999)
• Mastermind [USA]: Angels Of The Apocalypse (2000)
• Einstein: 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: Star One: Space Metal (2002)
• Benny Jansson: Save The World (2002)
• Aina: Days Of Rising Doom (2003)
• Barilari (2003)
• Sonata Arctica: Winterheart's Guild (2003)
• Mastermind (Japanese): To The World Beyond (2004)
• Spastic Ink: Ink Compatible (2004)
• Kamelot: The Black Halo (2005)

Dio is a heavy metal band led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in October 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath. ... Deadline consisted of Ray Hare on vocals, Chris Caron on guitar, Terry Scanlon on bass and Brendan Canty on drums. ... Peter Edward Ginger Baker (born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, South London) is an English drummer who gained fame as a member of the Graham Bond Organisation (GBO) and Cream from 1966 until 1968. ... Jonas Hellborg (born June 7, 1958) is a Swedish bass guitarist. ... Tony Jeff MacAlpine (born August 29, 1960 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is an American guitarist and keyboardist with a unique style blending elements of neo-classical and jazz fusion. ... Blackmores Night is a Renaissance-inspired Folk Rock band led by Ritchie Blackmore (Electric and Acoustic Guitars) and Candice Night (lyricist and lead vocals). ... Roland Grapow, born August 30th, 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist. ... Arjen Anthony Lucassen Arjen Anthony Lucassen (born April 3, 1960) is a composer and musician from the Netherlands. ... Aina is a progressive metal supergroup, containing members from all over the world and from all strands of metal and hard rock. ... Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1996. ... Spastic Ink is a technical progressive metal band from the United States. ... Kamelot is a power metal band that incorporate elements of progressive metal into their music. ...

Related links

• Jens Johansson's Homepage
• Heptagon Records
• Stratovarius Homepage

Some text taken from the 'Heavy Machinery' album booklet and Jens Homepage.