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Erik Johannessen (musician)

Erik Johannessen (born 22 July 1975 in Oslo) is a Norwegian trombonist and composer, who has played in bands like Jaga Jazzist, Wojciech Staroniewicz Quintet, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Loud Jazz Band, Lord Kelvin, Funky Hot Grits, Skarbø Skulekorps, Ensemble Denada and Magic Pocket.

Career

Johannessen grew up at Lambertseter and was educated in jazz at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium and the University of Oslo. He mainly plays jazz and pop music and works with music in many context. He has toured extensively in Europe and the rest of the world with Jaga Jazzist and Ensemble Denada, in Poland with Loud Jazz Band and Wojciech Staroniewicz Quintet, and in Norway with other bands.

He has played with Trondheim Jazzorkester in projects including Joshua Redman, Eirik Hegdal, Terje Rypdal, Jon Balke, Erlend Skomsvoll, Maria Kannegaard, and his own band, Magic Pocket. He has also released albums with Lord Kelvin and Magic Pocket. He received the Sparebank1 Midtnorges JazZtipendiat 2009/10 with Magic Pocket and was awarded the Spellemannprisen 2010 in open class for the album One-Armed Bandit with Jaga Jazzist, and the in the jazz category with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and GURLS in 2022.

He has conducted, arranged, and composed for bands such as Kjellerbandet, Midtnorsk Ungdomstorband, Follo Big Band, Orkdal Storband, Kristiansund Storband, Vollen Big Band, Travelin' Storband and Sintefstorbandet.

He is currently playing in Meg og kammeraten min together with Martin Hagfors and has released several albums with music for children.

Johannessen composed film music for Knerten og Sjøormen (2020) together with Erlend Mokkelbost.

Johannessen's first solo album Inkblots (2012) is free improvisation accompanied by bassist Jon Rune Strøm from the Frode Gjerstad Trio and Magic Pocket drummer Erik Nylander. He released The Signal (2025) as a trombone and electronics album. Erik Johannessen and The Flying Carpets is a quartet consisting of pianist Isach Skeidsvoll, bassist Ola Høyer and drummer Martin Heggli Mellem, and released an album called Mirror In The Hall (2026)

Honors

Discography

As leader

  • Inkblots (2012)
  • the Signal (2025)
  • Mirror In The Hall (2026)

As sideman

Meg og kammeraten min

  • Gjenta-jenta (2016)
  • Snydelig (2017)
  • Sjeldne Skjell (2020)

Wojciech Staroniewicz Quintet

  • North Park (2019)
  • Strange Vacation (2022)
  • Live - The Band One Tour (2025)

Mr.E & Me

  • New Orchestral Hits 4 Kids Vol.1 (2019)
  • New Orchestral Hits 4 Kids Vol.2 (2023)

With Jaga Jazzist

  • One-Armed Bandit (2010)
  • Live With Britten Sinfonia (2012)
  • Starfire (2015)
  • The Pyramid (2020)

With Lord Kelvin

  • Dances in the Smoke (2008)
  • Radio Has No Future (2011)

With the Loud Jazz Band

  • Don't Stop the Train (2004)
  • The Way To Salina (2005)
  • Passing (2007)
  • Living Windows (2008)
  • The Silence (2010)

With Magic Pocket & Morten Qvenild

  • Katabatic Wind (2011)

With Skarbø Skulekorps

  • Innesko (2023)

With Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

With others

References