Jan Johansson

In 1995, Sweden's Heptagon Records reissued two of Jan Johansson's classic 1960s LPs, Jazz pa Svenska and Jazz pa Ryska, as the single CD Folkvisor. Jazz pa Svenska was Johansson's most famous album in Sweden and is considered essential listening by many Scandinavian jazz lovers -- according to writer Erik Kjellberg, it has sold 200,000 copies over the years. Jazz pa Svenska translates to Jazz in Swedish, and the collection of introspective duets with bassist Georg Riedel serve as a soulful jazz tribute to Swedish folk music. Meanwhile, 1967's Jazz pa Ryska translates to Jazz in Russian and expresses Johansson's appreciation of Russian folk. On both albums, his pianism is as personal as it is moving. Full of brilliant and amazing music, Folkvisor points to the fact that Johansson was not only a major risk-taker; he was also an artist of depth who didn't hesitate to show his vulnerability. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide