{{Short description|Norwegian jazz musician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Harald Johnsen | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Harald Gill Johnsen | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1970|03|19}} | birth_place = Oslo | origin = Norway | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2011|07|24|1970|03|19}} | death_place = Oslo, Norway | genre = Jazz | occupation = Musician, composer | instrument = Upright bass | years_active = | label = | associated_acts = Tord Gustavsen Trio <br/>Køhn/Johansen Sextet | website = }}
'''Harald Gill Johnsen''' (19 March 1970 – 24 July 2011) was a Norwegian jazz double bassist, known for his contributions in bands like Køhn/Johansen Sextet and Tord Gustavsen Trio, and a series of recordings with such as Sonny Simmons, Sigurd Køhn, Nils-Olav Johansen, Jan Erik Kongshaug, Frode Barth, Per Oddvar Johansen and Ditlef Eckhoff.<ref name=nbl>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Tor |last=Hammerø |title=Harald Johnsen Biography |url=http://snl.no/Harald_Johnsen |encyclopedia=Store Norske Leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |accessdate=2012-11-25}}</ref><ref name=ballade>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2006080715300229193408 |title=Johnsen, Harald Biography |language=Norwegian |date=3 November 2011 |access-date=2012-11-25 |publisher=Ballade.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222183031/http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2006080715300229193408 |archive-date=22 February 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://snl.no/Harald_Johnsen |title=Biografphy from Store Norske Leksikon|date=7 January 2021}} (in Norwegian).</ref>
== Career == [[File:Tord Gustavsen Trio.jpg|thumb|left|Harald Johnsen during a concert with Tord Gustavsen Trio in Oslo 2007. <br/><small>(Photo: Martin Stabenfeldt)</small>]] Johnsen was a graduate of the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (NTNU, 1989–92).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ntnu.no/jazzlinja25/studentene.htm |title=Jazzlinja |accessdate=2012-11-25 |publisher=NTNU.no |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053706/http://www.ntnu.no/jazzlinja25/studentene.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> He participated in the "two basses event" with the Trygve Seim led ''Trondheim Art Orchestra'' later called ''Trygve Seim Ensemble''. He played a key role in a variety of jazz bands, including Nils-Olav Johansen Trio, Christian Belt Trio, Svein Olav Herstad Trio, Jan Erik Kongshaug Quartet and Køhn/Johansen Sextet. He was a member of several bands, including Erlend Skomsvoll's "Hvorfor Ikke?" in 1994, Erik Wesseltoft Quartet from 1995, "Appaloosa Nova" from 1996, and collaborated on the album ''You'll always need friends'' (1997) within The Alf Kjellman Project, and ''Choice'' (1998) with Monica Borgen.<ref name=puls>{{cite web |url=http://www.puls.no/8129.html |title=Monica Borgen: Midnight Blue Review |first=Tor |last=Hammerø |language=Norwegian |date=26 June 2001 |accessdate=2012-11-25 |publisher=Puls.no}}</ref> He has also played a while with Ditlef Eckhoff, releasing an album ''Impressions of Antibes'' (1997). In the last years of his life he had great success in the Tord Gustavsen Trio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tordg.no/trio/harald_johnsen.htm |title=Biography from The Official Tord Gustavsen Trio website |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-date=3 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703145142/http://www.tordg.no/trio/harald_johnsen.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Johnsen has participated on several recordings, such as with Ditlef Eckhoff and Eric Reed on the album ''Impressions of Antibes'' (1997), and on the Einar Iversen led album ''Merry Christmas'' (1999) by Ditlef Eckhoff. Around the turn of the millennium, he joined Silje Nergaard Band and Tord Gustavsen Trio, which led to international releases. In addition he has played on recordings with, among others Karl Sundby (2004).<ref name=ballade/>
Johnsen also played with guitarist and composer Frode Barth since 1984. Their trio TAPE (guitar, bass and drums) along with drummer Tom Erling Lie, won the Youth Festival, Norwegian final, in 1988. They also released the album, ''Blue Spheres'' (2007).
Johnsen got an illness that prevented him gradually from playing actively. He died on 24 July 2011 at the age of 41.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/68-2011/12003-jazz-breaking-news-internationally-known-norwegian-bassist-harald-johnsen-dies |title=jazzwisemagazine.com – Jazz breaking news: Internationally Known Norwegian Bassist Harald Johnsen Dies}}</ref>
== Discography (in selection) ==
;With Tord Gustavsen Trio *2002: ''Changing Places'' (ECM) *2004: ''The Ground'' (ECM) *2006: ''Being There'' (ECM)
; ;With Svein Olav Herstad Trio ;*1993: ''Dig'' (Ponca Jazz Recordings), trio including Torbjørn Engan ;*1997: ''Sommerregn'' (Ponca Jazz Recordings), trio including Per Oddvar Johansen ;*2006: ''Suite for Simmons'' (Jazzaway), trio including Johnsen/Johansen feat. Sonny Simmons live from Festiviteten Hall, Sildajazz in Haugesund (2005), performing a commission in six parts ;With Silje Nergaard Band ;*2000: ''Port of call'' (EmArcy) ;*2001: ''At first light'' (EmArcy) ;*2003: ''Nightwatch'' (EmArcy)
;With Ditlef Eckhoff ;1997: ''Impressions of Antibes'' (Gemini Records) ; ;With The Alf Kjellman Project *1997: ''You'll Always Need Friends'' (Gemini Records)
;With Monica Borgen *1998: ''Choice'' (Midnight Blue Music)<ref name=puls/>
;With Jan Erik Kongshaug *1998: ''The Other World'' (ACT) *2003: ''All These Years'' (Hot Club Records)
;Within "Køhn/Johansen Sextet» *1999: ''Woman's Got to Have It'' *2003: ''Angels''
;With Einar Iversen & Ditlef Eckhoff *1999: ''Merry Christmas'' (Hi-Di Music)
;With Erik Wesseltoft Quintet *2004: ''Con Amor'' (Normann Records)
;;With Trond Bjertnes & Frode Barth ;*1993: ''Egentlig'' (Ponca Jazz Records) ;*1997: ''JEG'' (MTG) ;Duo with Frode Barth *2007: ''Blue spheres'' (MTG)
;With other projects *1988: ''Hummer og kanari'', Frode A. Danielsen *1996: ''Østkantblues'', Karl Sundby / Erik Wesseltoft *1999: ''Together'', Inge Stangvik / Eivind Sannes
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Commons}}
== External links == {{Portal|Norway|Jazz}} * [https://archive.today/20130222183031/http://www.ballade.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2006080715300229193408 Biography: Johnsen, Harald – Norsk musikkinformasjon Ballade.no] * [http://snl.no/Harald_Johnsen Biografi Harald Johnsen in Store norske leksikon]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnsen, Harald}} Category:1970 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Norwegian jazz upright-bassists Category:Norwegian male double-bassists Category:Norwegian University of Science and Technology alumni Category:Musicians from Kristiansand Category:ECM Records artists Category:Norwegian male jazz musicians Category:Tord Gustavsen Ensemble members