Per Oddvar Johansen

Per Oddvar Johansen (born 1 March 1968) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (drummer), most recognized for his work with Trygve Seim, Christian Wallumrød, The Source, Solveig Slettahjell and Vigleik Storaas, but has also been awarded the Spellemannprisen five times.

Johansen was born in Oslo, where he played in several rock bands before attending the Jazz Program at Trondheim Music Conservatory (1989–92).

There he started cooperations with among others the Bodega Band (1990–92, with the record En flik av ... in 1992), Airamero from 1990, Trio Midt-Norge, Piggy Bop from 1991, Vigleik Storaas Trio and the Trondheim Kunstorkester.

He also started a long-lasting cooperation with Trygve Seim, among others in The Source, and has given profound marks on the Norwegian Jazz scene.

He put his drums in for the band Tre Små Kinesere (1992) too.

When returning to Bærum (1992) he still continued many of these projects, in addition to performing with artists like Torbjørn Sunde, Jan Erik Kongshaug, the quartet TINGeLING, tubaist Lars Andreas Haug, Solveig Slettahjell's "Slow Motion Orchestra", Kjersti Stubø, Petter Wettre, Jacob Young, 1300 Oslo, Zanussi Five, with Kjetil Møster/Per Zanussi Trio, the singer Eldbjørg Raknes and the guitarist Hans Mathisen.

In 1994 he toured with the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and performed with the rock band Motorpsycho at Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 1995.

He has released four records with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Christian Wallumrød in the trio Close Erase (from 1995).

He has also given lectures in drumming at University of Oslo and Norges Musikkhøgskole.

Johansen together with Petter Wettre was rewarded Spellemannprisen 2000 in the class jazz for the album The Only Way to Travel, a prize he also received twice as a member of Vigleik Storaas Trio.

He played with Joshua Redman, Arild Andersen and Bugge Wesseltoft at Moldejazz 2006.