Ulf Johansson

Highly regarded in Scandinavian jazz circles, Ulf Johansson is a swing and bop pianist/trombonist who does some singing here and there. Johansson was born in Lovanger, Sweden, in 1956, but moved to Uppsala when he was seven and grew up there. In 1978, Johansson was awarded a scholarship to study jazz at the University of Pittsburgh, and for a few years, he was active on the Pittsburgh jazz scene. But in 1980, Johansson returned to Sweden and attended the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. As a sideman, Johansson played with the Gugge Hedrenius Blues Band from 1980-1985 and with clarinetist/saxophonist Arne Domnerus from 1986-1995. Johansson has also played with some well-known American jazzmen, including Harry "Sweets" Edison, Al Grey, and Joe Newman. One of his most prestigious gigs came in the late '80s, when he played alongside drummer Mel Lewis and Swedish saxman Hacke Bjorksten in a trio that headlined at New York's Village Vanguard. In 1993, Johansson became a member of the Swedish Swing Society, a small group that includes vibist Lars Erstrand and Finnish clarinetist Antti Sarpila. Johansson's recordings as a leader have included 1993's Trackin' the Wulf on Phontastic and 1997's The Wild and the Mild on Sittel. ~ Alex Henderson