Jan-Olof Strandberg - Illustrations

Featuring; Jan-Olof Strandberg, Sami Virtanen & Kyösti Toivanen

Jan-Olof Strandberg was born 5 November 1956 in Helsinki and started to play the bass guitar at age of 14, first he studied electric bass guitar in the new pop/jazz school of Helsinki, that later become the Pop/Jazz Conservatory, but when upright bass started to become Jan-Olof`s main instrument he switched to Helsinki Conservatory by recommendation from his teacher Teppo Hauta-Aho. Helsinki Conservatory was based on classical music only.

The first gig Jan-Olof Strandberg ever played was in the summer of 1975 at Kirjurinluoto Park with the Finnish rock legend Rauli Badding Somerjoki. Soon after in the end of 70`s rock and jazz music started to get J-O`s attention again. Jan-Olof together with his friend Right-Hand Hänninen formed their first band, Funky President in 1977. Other members were singer Timo Turpeinen, Keyboard player Kari Vahtiala and the drummers Kyösti Toivanen and Matti Junttila.

During that period J-O did also play together the first time with the guitar greats; Jukka Tolonen and Ilkka Rantamäki, www.ilkkarantamaki.com with whom he made three albums later during the years.

Steel City was another band that was active during the early –80`s the group included some talented musicians who later became big names in Finland’s music scene.

The line up was Kaija Kokkola & Hannu Heinisaari Vocals, Esko Toivanen, Keyboards, Risto Asikainen, Guitar, Antti Snellman, Drums and Jan-Olof Strandberg, Bass.

The band F&F was formed together with Right-Hand Hänninen in 1983 and the group found a great young vocalist called Bianca Morales. The band name changed to Bianca Morales & F.F after a suggestion of the record company. The band appeared on several TV shows and was quite successful, the group also recorded an album called “Our Party” in 1984 produced by Right-Hand Hänninen.

The group lasted to the end of 1986.

In the end of 80`s J-O did play together with the blues Vocalist/Harmonica player Pepe Ahlqvist and made a tour to Poland (1987) Pepe Ahlqvist guests on Strandbergs album Great Moments. After that J-O played together with the Ilkka Rantamäki Band for several years, that band included some top players from Finland.

In the late 80`s early 90`s J-O started to work together with the Swedish bass amplifier manufacturer called EBS, that produced top equipment for bass players. The work with EBS www.ebs.bass.se has lasted to this day and J-O has done clinics for the company worldwide, as well as some artist relation work.

In the mid of 90`s Jan-Olof Strandberg started a successful solo carrier besides of his other projects. The first solo album “At The Music Box” was released in 1995 and got worldwide attention. Soon after the follow up album “Great Moments” was recorded and released in 1997. On the album bass great Armand Sabal-Lecco appeared as a special guest. Since then J-O has toured and done concerts and clinics world wide in countries like Finland, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, England, Spain, U.S.A, Japan, Korea, Poland and Slovakia.

Some of the “great moments” during the years has been concerts with Mel Gaynor, Dominique Di Piazza, Abe Tomuyaki and Paul Jacksons Funk Attack.

Strandberg was also featured on the Bassics Magazines cover in June 2000 together with some other bass greats.

In the end of the 90`s J-O had an idea in mind of a special acoustic bass guitar. The instrument was designed a built by the luthier Rauno Nieminen and is commercially available through Rauno Nieminen Acoustic Instruments. The album “Illustrations” was recorded with that instrument in the year 2000. A track from that album can be heard at the Bassic Magazines Complete CD issue 24 www.bassics.com

You can read Strandbergs bass columns in the Swedish guitar magazine FUZZ www.fuzz.se, Bass Magazine www.bassmagazine.nl from Netherlands and in the Finnish music magazine RYTMI www.rytmi.com

Strandberg CD “The Electric City” was officially released 19 of August 2003.

Some highlights from the CD are performances by Mel Gaynor (Simple Minds) and Domonique Di Piazza (John McLaughlin) also Manuel Dunkel and Rami Eskelinen (Trio Töykeät) give their best.

Strandberg is also a member of the Paul Jackson Funck Attack (look at “pictures” page 3) the band performs temporary.

The CD “STRANDBERG PROJECT featuring PAUL JACKSON” was released at The European Bass Day in Viersen, Germany 28 of November 2004

The CD features, Jan-Olof Strandberg, Paul Jackson, Sami Virtanen, Mel Gaynor and Mirka Rantanen.

The Strandberg Band, present line up;

Jan-Olof Strandberg; acoustic & electric bass guitar, upright bass

Sami Virtanen; Guitar

Dan Antone; Keyboards

Timo Lassy; Sax

Tony Porthen; Drums