Johan Eriksson is Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at the University of Montana. He holds B.M. degrees in Performance and Jazz Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a M.M. degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University, and a D.M.A. degree in Performance with a minor in Music Theory from the University of Northern Colorado.
Johan is originally from Sweden, and he is equally comfortable in classical and jazz genres. His dissertation stands as an authoritative document on pedagogical strategies for the cross-over teacher and artist.
Johan has performed with Slide Hampton, Dee Dee Bridewater, Chris Potter, Rufus Reid, Hamiet Bluiett, Randy Brecker, Bill Holman, "Blue" Lou Marini, Vince DiMartino, Azar Lawrence, Wayne Bergeron, Steve Turre, Jay Sanborn, Greg Gisberg, Ingrid Jensen, Lee Konitz, Grace Kelly, Willie Pickens, Donny McCaslin, Johnathan Blake, Boris Kozlov, Dan Nimmer, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Singers, and many others. He appears on two Dazzle Jazz label recordings, Into the Open and Hold On, with the Fred Hess Big Band, alongside Matt Wilson, Ron Miles, and John Gunther.
Johan has also performed with Harry Begian, Thomas Leslie, Dennis Zeisler, Don Wilcox, Kenneth Singleton, David Holsinger, John Locke, and John Corigliano. His mentors include Magnus Nilson, Tommy Wiklund, Craig Whitaker, Steven Stusek, Steve Duke, Andrew Dahlke, Jim White, Dana Landry, Erik Applegate, Steve Haines, and Ron Carter.
Dedicated to music education, he has taught kindergarten through 12th grade. Johan is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
