Bergen Big Band

Bergen Big Band
Bergen Big Band at a memorial concert for Olav Dale, November 2, 2014
Bergen Big Band at a memorial concert for Olav Dale, November 2, 2014
Background information
OriginBergen, Norway
GenresJazz, big band
Years active1991–present
LabelsECM, Grappa
Members
Past membersOlav Dale (1958 – 2014)

Bergen Big Band (BBB) is a Norwegian big band established 1991 as a continuation of Knut Kristiansen's Bergen Band. BBB is known from cooperations with musicians like Phil Woods, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Diana Krall, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Andy Sheppard, Martial Solal, Mathias Rüegg, Gianluigi Trovesi, Mathias Eick, Ole Kock Hansen, Etta Cameron, Karin Krog, John Surman, Dino Saluzzi, Gustavo Bergalli, Berit Opheim, Jan Magne Førde, The Core, Ab und Zu, Vidar Johansen, Paolo Vinaccia, Ståle Storløkken, Palle Mikkelborg and Terje Rypdal among others.[1][2][3]

Biography

Karin Krog with BBB in 2014.

Olav Dale was musical leader of the band the entire period 1991-2014. In 1995, BBB, Nattjazz and Vossajazz made an agreement to make an annual project with the band over a three-year period. The collaboration has continued thereafter. In 1999, the West Norwegian Jazz Center took over as administrative leaders of the band.[1]

In 2005 they released the studio album Seagull, with Karin Krog conducted by John Surman. In 2007 they released the album Meditations on Coltrane, from a concert at Nattjazz featuring The Core, the same year. Crime Scene (2010) recorded at Nattjazz 2910, featuring Terje Rypdal, Palle Mikkelborg, Ståle Storløkken and Paolo Vinaccia, at the ECM label.[2][3]

November 2, 2004 the band was joined by Karin Krog and John Surman, for a memorial concert for the bands late leader Olav Dale at USF, Verftet in Bergen.[4]

Current members

Honors

Discography

Albums

  • 2003: Adventures In European New Jazz And Improvised Music (Europe Jazz Oddysey), with Mathias Rüegg "Art & Fun" on compilation with various artists
  • 2005: Seagull (Grappa Music), feat. Karin Krog conducted by John Surman recorded at the Nattjazz Festival, Bergen 2004
  • 2007: Meditations on Coltrane (Grappa Music), with The Core
  • 2008: Som den gyldne sol frembryter (Grappa Music)
  • 2010: Crime Scene (ECM Records), with Terje Rypdal recorded at the Nattjazz Festival, Bergen 2009
  • 2014: Another Sky (Grappa Music), with John Surman
  • 2016: Kuria Suite (Grappa Music), with Knut Kristiansen[7]
  • 2017: Norwegian Song IV (Odin Records|Odin), with Dag Arnesen

Contributors

Seagull Meditations on Coltrane Crime Scene
Pål Roseth - trombone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Sindre Dalhaug - trombone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Øyvind Hage - trombone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Kjell Erik Husom - bass trombone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Michael Barnes - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet Contributed Contributed Contributed
Zoltan Vincze - tenor saxophone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Olav Dale - flute, alto flute, piccolo, bass clarinet, alto saxophone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Jan Kåre Hystad - alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet Contributed Did not contribute Contributed
Ole Jacob Hystad - clarinet, tenor saxophone Contributed Contributed Contributed
Øystein Søbstad - alt saxophone, alto flute, flute Contributed Contributed Did not contribute
Kjetil Møster - tenor saxophone Did not contribute Contributed Did not contribute
John Surman - baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone Contributed Did not contribute Did not contribute
Palle Mikkelborg - trumpet Did not contribute Did not contribute Contributed
Martin Winter - trumpet, flugelhorn Contributed Contributed Contributed
Svein Henrik Giske - trumpet, flugelhorn Contributed Contributed Contributed
Reid Gilje - trumpet, flugelhorn Contributed Contributed Did not contribute
Are Ovesen - trumpet, flugelhorn Contributed Contributed Contributed
Karin Krog - vocals Contributed Did not contribute Did not contribute
Magne Thormodsæter - double bass, electric bass Contributed Contributed Contributed
Steinar Raknes - double bass Did not contribute Contributed Did not contribute
Terje Rypdal - guitar Did not contribute Did not contribute Contributed
Ole Thomsen - guitar Contributed Contributed Contributed
Paolo Vinaccia - drums, sampler Did not contribute Did not contribute Contributed
Frank Jakobsen - drums, percussion Contributed Contributed Contributed
Stein Inge Brækhus - percussion Contributed Contributed Did not contribute
Ivar Kolve - vibraphone Did not contribute Did not contribute Contributed
Ståle Storløkken - hammond B-3 organ Did not contribute Did not contribute Contributed
Dag Arnesen - piano, electric piano Contributed Contributed Did not contribute
Erlend Slettevoll - piano Did not contribute Contributed Did not contribute
Helge Lilletvedt - electric piano Did not contribute Contributed Contributed

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Bergen Big Band Biography" (in Norwegian). JazzINorge.no.
  2. ^ a b Fordham, John (15 April 2010). "Terje Rypdal/Bergen Big Band: Crime Scene". London: Guardian.co.uk.
  3. ^ a b "Terje Rypdal: Crime Scene (2010)" (in Norwegian). AllAboutJazz.no. 11 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Bergen Big Band med John Surman og Karin Krog – til minne om Olav Dale" (in Norwegian). JazzINorge.no. 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  5. ^ "Til minne om Olav Dale" (in Norwegian). Vestnorsk.JazzINorge.no. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  6. ^ "Olav Dales minnepris til Bergen Big Band" (in Norwegian). JazzINorge.no. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  7. ^ "BERGEN BIG BAND – "KURIA SUITE" - Sleppefest for Kuria Suite". BergenJazzforum.no. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
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