From an early age he was part of an active local music scene, starting with school corps and later in the grunge-like rock band "Fresh Fruit".

The interest in jazz was really awakened when Johansen met with Jan Gunnar Hoff, Terje Venaas and drummer Finn Sletten in 1988.

[1] In the period 1997–99 he worked as a regional musician in jazz trio "VoyageFar East", cooperating with Knut Kristiansen from Bergen and the bass player Svein Folkvord.

At the same time he played with "Marit Hætta Øverli Band" (1994–98) and toured with her in Sweden, Finland, US and Canada, and also recorded for television (NRK, SVT/YLE and CNN) with her.

[1] He has participated in a number of lineups with US musicians such as the trumpet legend Kenny Wheeler, trombonist Slide Hampton and Juan Pablo Torres, guitarist Randy Johnston, singer Barbara Morrison, pianists Hal Galper and Larry Vuckovich, saxophonists Bob Mintzer, George Garzone, Herb Geller and Scott Robinson, on tour and at festivals.