Johansen is considered one of the most talented saxophonists to emerge out of the Norwegian jazz scene in the 1970s. He started out early 1970 in a quartet with
Jon Eberson, and collaborated with the Balke brothers. He also collaborated within
Jon Balke Quartet (1973–74), "The amateur big band" in Kongsberg (1974), in the jazz-rock band "Adonis" (1974–75), and was recognized in his quartet led together with
Erik Balke (1974–77), playing at the
Moldejazz and
Vossajazz festivals in 1975 and 1976, respectively. He was also a member of the University Big Band in Oslo (1977), inter alia, "Hipshot Percussion" 1976–1978, "Shrub Smoul" 1977–78, jazz rock group "Lotus" from 1977 to 1983 with an album (1979),
Espen Rud's "Kråbøl" 1978, a quartet with bassist Åsmund Snortheim (1978–79), Åge Røthe Quartet 1979–80), "Lille Frøen Saksofonkvartett" (1979–89) joining in several festival gigs and the album
4 men (1986), Per Høglend Sextet (1980–81),
Anne-Marie Giørtz Quintet (1982–87) with albums released in 1983 and 1985. In 1984 he joined the band "Out to Lunch", and they released the albums
Out To Lunch (1988) and
Kullboksrytter (1994),
Oslo 13 1986–1992,
Ole Jacob Hansen / Harald Gundhus big band from 1988 trio with
Kåre Garnes and
Tom Olstad (1990),
Søyr from 1991 with the album release
Buses homesick 1993 and
The meat and love (1995),
Grand Slam and
Quartet Decisive from 1992, besides that he has been frequently substitute in Radio big band 1978– 90 (pl.innsp. 1987), participated in the Per Husby Dedication Orchestra from 1984 to 1988 (pl.innsp. 1985, 87) and recorded discs with The Gambian / Norwegian Friendship Orchestra 1982,
Jens Wendelboe Big Band in 1983, Lars Martin Myhre / Slagen Big Band (1983–85), "Jazz on Norwegian" 1990 Jens Wendelboe Big Crazy Energy Band from 1991 to 1992,
Knut Kristiansen Monk Moods (1995),
Odd Børretzen /
Lars Martin Myhre (1995),
Eivind Aarset (1997), "Element" (1998) and
Lars Martin Myhre (1998–99),
Kjell Karlsen Big Band (2001), Ron Olsen (2002) and Paul Weeden (2003). A versatile, skilled and quality creative musician; In recent years he has, among other things contributed as energetic soloist on bass clarinet on plates with
Søyr,
Ab und Zu and
Bugge Wesseltoft (1995–1996). As composer known for his subtle titles, compositional documentation as on the album
Nordjazz Big 5 recorded by Danish Radio Big Band in 1987 and
Sony Simmons plays the music of Vidar Johansen – The traveler (2004–05). Finally he released an album
Lopsided (1997) under his own name,
Vidar Johansen Trio record live at Oslo Jazzhus in 1995. Along with
Bjørnar Andresen and
Thomas Strønen he formed the band "Bayashi" who released the album
Help Is on Its Way (2001) and
Rock (2004). Later he participated in the
Tine Asmundsen Lonely Woman albums
Alive (2003), ''Demons' Diversions
(2005), Radegund
(2008) and Lovely Luna
(2012), the album Bjørn Johansen in Memoriam'' (2003),
Jacob Young's
Evening falls (2004) and
Sideways (2006),
Erik Wesseltoft Con Amor (2004),
Life Is A Beautiful Monster with Crimetime Orchestra (2004),
Sonny Simmons The traveler (2004) and the album
Madison where he collaborates with
Tine Asmundsen,
Richard Davis and
Robert Shy (2007). In recent years (2015) he has been living on a mountain farm in Lom, which does not prevent him from the participations on the Norwegian jazz scenes. In 2009 he released three albums, his own
Lost Animals,
The Core & More Vol 1 and
Atomic Symphony by Crime Time Orchestra,
Sonny Simmons and
The Norwegian Radio Orchestra. == Selected discography ==