Album artwork for Younger Than Springtime 1959-1961 by Jan Johansson and Arne Domnerus

The pianist Jan Johansson’s revolutionary jazz treatments of traditional Swedish folk songs were a few years away, and he had yet to experiment with modal playing and avant-garde jazz. At this point, he was still playing mostly hard bop, which is the style that dominates here. It gets off to an impressive start with four recordings from Johansson’s first session with alto saxophonist Arne Domnerus in 1959. After that, Johansson is heard as a trio pianist in 1959 and 1960. The Swede’s expressive pianism demonstrates that while Bud Powell had been a big influence on him, he was quite willing to incorporate the ideas of others who came along, ranged from Bill Evans to Red Garland. Like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Johansson was far from complacent; he believed in challenging himself and continuing to forge ahead.

Jan Johansson and Arne Domnerus

Younger Than Springtime 1959-1961

Dragon
Album artwork for Younger Than Springtime 1959-1961 by Jan Johansson and Arne Domnerus
CD

$14.99

Released 04/15/2022Catalog Number

CD-DRA-186

Learn more
Jan Johansson and Arne Domnerus

Younger Than Springtime 1959-1961

Dragon
Album artwork for Younger Than Springtime 1959-1961 by Jan Johansson and Arne Domnerus
CD

$14.99

Released 04/15/2022Catalog Number

CD-DRA-186

Learn more

The pianist Jan Johansson’s revolutionary jazz treatments of traditional Swedish folk songs were a few years away, and he had yet to experiment with modal playing and avant-garde jazz. At this point, he was still playing mostly hard bop, which is the style that dominates here. It gets off to an impressive start with four recordings from Johansson’s first session with alto saxophonist Arne Domnerus in 1959. After that, Johansson is heard as a trio pianist in 1959 and 1960. The Swede’s expressive pianism demonstrates that while Bud Powell had been a big influence on him, he was quite willing to incorporate the ideas of others who came along, ranged from Bill Evans to Red Garland. Like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Johansson was far from complacent; he believed in challenging himself and continuing to forge ahead.