From: "upnsm0ke" <>
>The top rated keyboard shredders were voted to be (see '1998 Perp Awards'):
>Keyboardist:
>1. Jens Johansson (Stratovarius)
>2. Chris Ingles (Shadow Gallery)
>3. Tie: Kevin Moore (Chroma Key)/Vitalij Kuprij (Artension)
>Honorable Mention: Michael Pinnella (Symphony X)
>E-Man already raved about [Vitalij Kuprij]... Do others above have solo
keyboard-dominated releases?
Besides Vitalij (who has two solos, 'High Definition' and 'Extreme Measures'...an
Artension CD is finding its way to me via a trade), only Jens Johansson does (more so,
they are 'Johansson Brothers' releases, along with Anders, his brother). My favorite is
Johansson Bros. with Allan Holdsworth - 'Heavy Machinery' (this is tasty, fiery fusion,
not prog-metal). Jens has a solo called 'Fission,' with guests like Anders, guitarist
Shawn Lane, etc. It has jazzy/fusiony/proggy moments. I wouldn't recommend it as one to
start out with. Jens has an OP release from 1987 (title is in Swedish, I forget) which
consists of "four, lengthy & complex instrumentals" (as quoted from his web
site)...I hope it finds its way onto CD one day. ...Jens has been a member of Stratovarius
for not too long. They're not my cuppa joe.
From: "upnsm0ke" <>
>I also like Jens Johansson 'Fission' quite a bit... jazz/metal/prog combination -
keyboard-laden, all instrumental, powerful, intense and very well done!! If I like
this, would I like Stratovarius, Johansson's main group?
Worlds apart. I like prog-metal, but not of the neoclassical, Yngwie Malmsteen-esque
ilk that is Stratovarius (though I liked them better than Symphony X). Jens' keys do not
figure as prominently in the mix. Just listen with open ears :-)