Arnstein Johansen (June 19, 1925 – September 26, 2013) was a Norwegian accordionist that played jazz and old-fashioned dances. He became well-known through his recordings and his international collaboration.

Life

Johansen was born in

Fredrikstad Fredrikstad (; previously ''Frederiksstad''; literally "Fredrik's Town") is a city and municipality in Viken county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad. The city of Fredrikstad was founded in 15 ...

. He studied under Ottar E. Akre, Thorleif Ekren, and

Gunnar Sønstevold Gunnar Sønstevold (26 November 1912 – 18 October 1991) was a Norwegian composer. He was born in Elverum, and married composer Maj Sønstevold in 1941. He composed orchestral works, vocal music, chamber music, and music to a number of plays, ...

, and also at the

Norwegian Academy of Music The Norwegian Academy of Music (Norwegian: ''Norges musikkhøgskole'', NMH) is a university-level music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the co ...

. After the Second World War, he played in a duet with Rolf Andersen, and then spent time in the United States, playing with

Pietro Frosini Pietro Frosini (9 August 1885 – 2 September 1951) was one of the first famous "stars of the accordion." He was born in Catania, Sicily, in 1885 and began to play the chromatic button accordion at the age of six. In 1905 he emigrated to San Fran ...

Guido Deiro Count Guido Pietro Deiro (1 September 1886 – 26 July 1950) was a famous vaudeville star, international recording artist, composer and teacher. He was the first piano-accordionist to appear on big-time vaudeville, records, radio and the screen. ...

, and Anthony Galla-Rini. He released a number of albums as a solo artist and with the Arnstein Johansen Quartet (''Arnstein Johansen kvartett''), later quintet: ''Gammeldans'' (Old-Fashioned Dances), ''Hæla i taket'' (Party Hardy), ''A.J.'s freskeste'' (A. J.'s Freshest), ''I ring og feiende sving'' (In Ring and Sweeping Swing), ''Evergreens'' (Golden Oldies), ''Tea for Two'', ''Crazy Rhythm'', ''Out of Nowhere'', and ''Too Late Now''. He also played with Sverre Cornelius Lund and participated in releases with

Alf Prøysen Alf Prøysen () (23 July 1914 – 23 November 1970) was a Norwegian author, poet, playwright, songwriter and musician. Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the 20th century. He wor ...

and others. Johansen composed well-known pieces such as "Cornelli polka," "Vals in C" (Waltz in C), and "Førdeminner" (Memories of

Førde Førde is a former municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It was located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative center was the town of Førde which in 2016 had 10,255 inhabitants. Other villages in Førde ...

). He was an honorary member of the Norwegian Accordionists' Association and various local associations such as the Mo Accordionists' Club (''Mo Trekkspillubb''). Johansen died at the age of 88 and was laid to rest at the church in

Haslum Haslum is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population (2007) is 6,041.Bærum Bærum () is a municipality in the Greater Oslo Region in Norway that forms an affluent suburb of Oslo on the west coast of the city. Bærum is Norway's fifth largest municipality with a population of 128,760 (2021). It is part of the electoral ...

, Norway.

Discography

With Sverre Cornelius Lund

* '' Spell og dans'' (1975) * ''I ring og feiende sving'' (1976)

Solo albums

* ''Fagre Stryn'' (1963) * ''Arnstein Johansens freskeste'' (1977) * ''Don't Blame Me'' (1979) * ''Arnstein Johansen Evergreens'' (1995) * ''Arnstein Johansen Evergreens 2'' (1996) * ''Crazy Rhythm'' (1998) * ''Out of Nowhere – Evergreens'' (2000) * ''Too Late Now'' (2001)

Other releases

* Various artists: ''Ønskekassetten'' (1986)

Awards

* 1996: Vågå Award (''Vågåfatet''), shared with Sverre Cornelius Lund * 2006:

Albin Hagström Memorial Award The Albin Hagström Memorial Award ( sv, Albin Hagströms Minnespris) was a prize that was awarded between 1997 and 2006 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in memory of Albin Hagström, a well-known accordionist and accordion maker from Älvdale ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johansen, Arnstein Norwegian jazz musicians Jazz accordionists Norwegian accordionists Musicians from Fredrikstad 1925 births 2013 deaths