Arild Andersen

Career

Andersen was born at Strømmen, Norway. He started his musical career as jazz guitarist in the Riverside Swing Group in Lillestrøm (1961–63), started playing double bass in 1964, and soon became part of the core jazz bands in Oslo. He was a member of Roy Hellvin Trio, was in the backing band at Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 1967 and 1968, was elected Best Bassist by Jazznytt in 1967, and started as bass player in the Jan Garbarek Quartet (1967–1973), including Terje Rypdal and Jon Christensen. After completing his technical education in 1968, he became a professional musician and collaborated with Karin Krog, George Russell, and Don Cherry (Berlin 1968), and with visiting American musicians Phil Woods, Dexter Gordon, Bill Frisell, Hampton Hawes, Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins, Sheila Jordan, and Chick Corea. During the same period he worked with Ferenc Snétberger and Tomasz Stańko.

In the early 1970s, Andersen collaborated with Norwegian musicians Magni Wentzel, Jon Eberson, Ketil Bjørnstad, and Terje Rypdal, before leaving for an eventful visit to the U.S. in the winter of 1973–1974, and has since 1974 led his own bands, at first a quartet (1974–79). He worked with the Radka Toneff Quintet (1975–81) and has recorded more than a dozen albums as band leader for ECM Records, founded the critically acclaimed band Masqualero, and appeared as side man on a series of recordings. In January 2009, he was named "Musicien Europeen 2008" by the French Academie du Jazz, In 2010, Andersen received the Ella Award at the Oslo Jazzfestival.

In 2022, he recorded a trio album with the American drummer Bob Moses and Slovenian guitarist Samo Salamon entitled Pure and Simple.

Reception

In a review, All About Jazz critic John Kelman said, "Live at Belleville is Andersen's most exciting release to date. Even more, balanced with its lyrical and, at times, near-orchestral tendencies, it's the best disc of Andersen's long and varied career."

Honors

1969: Buddyprisen

1975: "Bassist of the Year" voted by the European Jazz Federation

1983: Spellemannprisen for Masqualero, within the band "Masqualero"

1984: Gammleng Award in the class Jazz

1986: Spellemannprisen for Bande a Part, within the band "Masqualero"

1991: Spellemannprisen for Re-Enter, within the band "Masqualero"

2008: "Musicien Europeen 2008" by the French "Academie du Jazz"

2010: "Ella Award" at the Oslo Jazzfestival

Discography

As leader/co-leader

1975.02 – Clouds in My Head – ECM Records (1975) Knut Riisnæs, Jon Balke, Pål Thowsen) (2001 – ECM Records)

1976.10 – Shimri – ECM Records (1977) (Juhani Aaltonen, Lars Jansson, Pål Thowsen)

1978.04 – Green Shading into Blue – ECM Records (1978) (Juhani Aaltonen, Lars Jansson, Pål Thowsen)

1980.12 – Lifelines – ECM Records (1981) (Kenny Wheeler, Steve Dobrogosz, Paul Motian)

1981.08 – Molde Concert – ECM Records (1982) (John Taylor, Bill Frisell, Alphonse Mouzon)

1990 – Sagn – Kirkelig Kulturverksted (1990) (Kirsten Bråten Berg, Bendik Hofseth, Bugge Wesseltoft, Frode Alnæs, Nana Vasconcelos) (2014 – Kirkelig Kulturverksted)

1990.10 – Secret Obsession – Nabel (1991) (Uli Beckerhoff, John Abercrombie, John Marshall)

1991.03 – If You Look Far Enough – ECM Records (1992) (Ralph Towner, Nana Vasconcelos)

1993 – Arv – Kirkelig Kulturverksted (1993) (Kirsten Bråten Berg, Bendik Hofseth, Bugge Wesseltoft, Frode Alnæs, Nana Vasconcelos)

1995 – Kristin Lavransdatter – Kirkelig Kulturverksted (1995) (Tore Brunborg, Reidar Skår)

1996.12 – Hyperborean – ECM Records (1997) (:Tore Brunborg, Bendik Hofseth, Vassilis Tsabropoulos, John Marshall, Cikada String Quartet)

1998 – Sommerbrisen – Kirkelig Kulturverksted (1998) (Frode Alnæs, Stian Carstensen: Frode Alnæs, Stian Carstensen)

As sideman

With Don Cherry

1968: Eternal Rhythm (MPS)

With Terje Rypdal

1971: Terje Rypdal (ECM)

With Bobo Stenson

1971: Underwear (ECM)

With Jan Garbarek

1969: Esoteric Circle (Flying Dutchman)

1970: Afric Pepperbird (ECM)

1971: Sart (ECM)

1972: Triptykon (ECM)

With Roswell Rudd

1974: Flexible Flyer (Arista Freedom)

With George Russell

1971: The Essence of George Russell (Sonet)

1982: Trip to Prillarguri (Soul Note)

1983: Listen to the Silence (Soul Note)

With Pål Thowsen, Jon Christensen & Terje Rypdal

1977: No Time for Time (Zarepta)

With Sheila Jordan

1977.08 – Sheila – SteepleChase (1978) (Sheila Jordan) (1988, 2021 – SteepleChase)

With David Darling

1981: Cycles (ECM)

With Bill Frisell