Biography
Norwegian guitarist and improviser currently living in Oslo. Education includes a bachelor degree in jazz performance and master study in improvised music, both at the State Acadamy of Music in Oslo.
Has since 2005 performed regularly in Norway with various groups and has toured clubs and festivals in Europe and USA with P/J/A, Petter Wettre, REVOLVER!, Speakeasy and Golden Dawn.
In addition to an upcoming project with Klaus Holm and Ola Hoyer, Kim performs with Svein Magnus Furu (The Eco Logic, Creative Sources, 2009), Wilkinson/Johannesen/Hoyer/Knedal Andersen, Speakeasy (Kayak, AIM Sound City, 2009), Golden Dawn, Interlocutor and Johannesen/Molstad/Solberg. He also plays solo concerts from time to time.
Other collaborations includes the likes of John Butcher, Axel Dorner, Maja Ratkje, Kristoffer Alberts, Roger Turner, Jon Rune Strom, Andre Roligheten, Jon Wesseltoft, Chris Corsano, Raymond Strid, Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, Daniel Meyer Gronvold, Fredrik Kirkevold, Pat Thomas, Morten Barrikmo Engebretsen, Stine Janvin Motland, Joe Williamson, Frode Gjerstad, Per Zanussi, Petter Wettre, Jeremy Rose, Jonas Westergaard, Adrian Myhr and Oystein Skar to name a few.
Press:
John Kelman in All About Jazz on concert at Kongsberg Jazzfestival:
"Johannesen was particularly impressive; a player with no shortage of ideas..."
Stein Kagge in Aftenposten on Appetite for Structure:
"For the undersigned this album brought a new star on the Norwegian jazzscene."
Roald Helgheim in Dagsavisen on Appetite for Structure:
"...and with its tight, ongoing ensembleplay the band on Appetite for Structure is really cooking the whole way thru the album, particularly with sparkling solos from guitarist Johannesen as a bonus."
Chris Monsen on REVOLVER! concert at by:Larm 2009:
"...guitarist Kim Johanessen scratches and pulls the guitar strings in ways that create a wide variety of sounds and noises..."
Arild Ronsen on REVOLVER! concert at Molde Jazzfestival 2008:
"Kim Johannesen funnels the guitar in a way that makes Jimi Hendrix' tearing apart of the American national anthem during the Woodstock festival sound like the Swedish evergreen "Mina gulbruna ogon". John Zorn presented something similar in Molde in the early 90's."