Björn Arkö
Björn Arkö is a Swedish saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator, actively performing and teaching in Sweden and Japan.
Known for his virtuosic and expressive approach to the saxophone, Björn obtained a Master’s degree in jazz saxophone from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (2018). His playing blends deep musicality with technical brilliance, making him a sought-after artist in both jazz and contemporary music.
Beyond the saxophone, Björn is one of Scandinavia’s leading wind synthesizer players, primarily performing on the EWI and NuRAD. His innovative use of electronic wind instruments has made him a unique voice in modern jazz and fusion.
Björn has an international career, regularly performing with world-class artists. He has toured with Billy Cobham and collaborated with musicians such as Dirty Loops, Ulf Wakenius, Seiko Matsuda, EXILE Atsushi, Kiyokiba Shunsuke, Henrik Linder, Hawk on Flight, Mai Leisz, Greg Leisz, Per Lindvall, Tim Miller, Lisa Nilsson, Blue Note Jazz Orchestra, Gene Jackson, Yabori Koichi, Simon Isogai, and Joel Lyssarides.
He is also a dedicated educator, offering private lessons and jazz band coaching in saxophone, wind synth, and piano, both online and in-person (Stockholm & Tokyo). Through his teaching, Björn helps students develop their sound, improvisation, rhythm, technique, and composition skills.
Fluent in Japanese, English, and Swedish, Björn is deeply involved in the Japanese jazz scene and has been featured in Japanese jazz magazines. His goal is to bridge the jazz cultures of Europe and Japan while continuing to push musical boundaries.