Jerry Johansson started out his musical journey some distant years ago in the Swedish city of Varberg, then as a guitar player and composer in various rock- and jazz-groups. After having had a minor revelation when experiencing a George Harrison-composition on a Beatles-album; an overwhelmed Jerry realised that the point of no return had finally arrived. He immediately began studying the classical Indian raga and the world of the sitar on an advanced level, with a most serious approach. This newly found universe of his does not only need highly concentrated and daily practise, but also requires an ascetical way of living and a humble approach to the world at large.

Sitar master Roop Verma appears, himself a former student of master Ravi Shankar; and he takes Jerry under his wings, so to speak, and Jerry becomes his pupil. Jerry practises various Indian modal scales and ways of thinking and plays and plays, and in time reaches the innermost soul and spirit of the classical Indian raga. The open mind of Jerry assimilates impressions and ideas, and the sitar player Jerry Johansson moves on from there to here; from a student to finally becoming a sitar master performer himself.

In 2005, Jerry was commisioned to write a piece for sitar and a string quartet from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 10 months later, the world premiere took place in Hagakyrkan in Göteborg, and shortly thereafter released on cd by Kning Disk (kd008).

Jerry Johansson´s latest composition for ...

Our second L. Series release is also an item of eternal beauty. Last year the Swedish master of the sitar, Jerry Johansson, was commisioned to compose a piece for sitar and a string quartet (with 4 members from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra). 10 months later, the world premiere was taking place in Hagakyrkan, in Göteborg. A musical adventure combining Indian ways of looking at the world with bare Swedish feet in the green grass of Never-neverland; resulting in a VERY impressive work.