Jazz breaking news: Internationally Known Norwegian Bassist Harald Johnsen Dies
Friday, August 5, 2011
Bassist Harald Johnsen, formerly of the Tord Gustavsen Trio, one of the most celebrated internationally successful piano trios of recent years, has died at the age of 41.
He passed away on 24 July following a heart attack and his funeral took place in Oslo on Wednesday.
With Gustavsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad, known collectively for their quiet and contemplative almost-hymnal style, recording between 2001 and 2006, Johnsen also toured widely as the trio records they made together – Changing Places, The Ground and Being There – sold in considerable quantity, proving popular, remarkably as the trio's fame grew mainly through word of mouth. At a packed concert in the Wigmore Hall in London for instance the trio’s performance, around the time of the release of The Ground, was such that you could hear a pin drop and Johnsen’s contribution was vital as this was a true meeting of minds. The New York Times succinctly described the effect of the trio in performance as melting "off the bandstand into puddles of feeling."
A former student at the Trondheim conservatory Johnsen also played with many well known Norwegian musicians including Trygve Seim and the quartet of famed Rainbow studio engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug as well as with many others. Johnsen left Tord Gustavsen as a result of illness, with the pianist expanding his group to create the current Ensemble featuring saxophonist Tore Brunborg.
Yet the three albums Johnson was so important in creating with Gustavsen are an important musical legacy of a musician who has departed much too soon and will be mourned by the jazz community across Europe and beyond.
– Stephen Graham