Kjell Oddvar Karlsen (29 July 1931 – 5 May 2020) was a Norwegian band leader, composer, arranger,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

pianist and organist, and a Nestor of Norwegian music and show business, with a career spanning more than 60 years. He was the father of the singer Webe Karlsen.

Career

Karlsen was born in

Sarpsborg Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg. Sarpsbor ...

. Inspired by the

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and Traditional pop, pop ...

jazz ensembles from the time of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he started his own orchestra at the age of 16 in 1947, ''The Syncopators Band'', in

, and he soon became a central figure in the local jazz scene. In the period 1953–59, he had a series of bands with local musicians, many to be influential on the Norwegian and some on the World jazz scenes, like the jazz singer

Karin Krog Karin Krog (born 15 May 1937) is a Norwegian Vocal jazz, jazz singer. Life and career Krog began singing jazz as a teenager and attracted attention while performing in jam sessions in Oslo. In 1955, she was hired by the pianist Kjell Karlsen ...

(1955–56), the saxophone players

Totti Bergh Theodor Christian Frølich Bergh known as Totti Bergh (5 December 1935 – 4 January 2012) was a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone), the younger brother of the jazz journalist Johannes (Johs.) Bergh (1932–2001). He was married to ...

(1955–59), Bjørn Johansen (1956–58) and Harald Bergersen (1959), and drummer Ole Jacob Hansen (1959), most of whom later would play central roles in the renowned Kjell Karlsens Big Band that he started together with saxophone player Mikkel Flagstad (1959–64). In addition to the ones listed above, K.K.B.B. featured musicians like trombonist Frode Thingnæs, bassist Erik Amundsen and the singers

Grynet Molvig Ann-Kristin "Grynet" Molvig (born 23 December 1942 in Rygge) is a Norwegian actress and singer. She made her name as a singer in the 1960, with acts such as Kjell Karlsen and Willy Andresen. Later, she also started performing in Sweden, often ...

, Laila Dalseth,

Odd Børre Odd Børre Sørensen (9 August 1939 – 28 January 2023) was a Norwegian pop singer. Internationally, he is best known for the song "Stress (Odd Børre song), Stress" that he performed in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968. He sang in the Kjell ...

and

Kirsti Sparboe Kirsti Sparboe (born 7 December 1946) is a Norwegian musical performer and an actress. Most of her musical career has been built on participation in the widely-popular Eurovision Song Contest in which she competed three times and scored a gran ...

among others. Karlsen also worked as a pianist and was an accompanist for a number of Norwegian and International Jazz soloists. He attended the first International Jazz Festival in

Molde Molde () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town and the seat of Molde Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Romsdal. It is located on the Romsdal Pen ...

in 1961. Karlsen founded the record label Viking Music in 1962, and among the signed bands and artists were The Beatniks, Rannie Rommen, Lorne Lesley and Jack Dailey. Kjell Karlsen's Big Band and Finn Eriksen also made recordings for the label. Karlsen was the initiator and opened the concert series ''Jazzakademiet'' in Oslo Konserthus (1997). Karlsen and a new generation of Norwegian musicians with Even Skatrud Andersen as one, gathered a new edition of the ''Kjell Karlsen Big Band'' and made the renowned arrangements to ''Edvard Grieg in jazz mood'' for the 10th anniversary of the ''Jazzakademiet'' in 2007, recorded in 2008. In the summer of 2011, Karlsen was 80 years old and was celebrated with an anniversary gala at Oslo Konserthus where a large number of artist friends and partners lined up with a Big Band and choir for a musical event constituting a party out of the ordinary. Karlsen died on May 5, 2020.

Composer to the Melodi Grand Prix

Releases

*''I selskap med K. K. Orkester'' vol 1, 3 and 3 (1968–71). *''K. K. Big Band Bonanza'' ( Tylden, 2001) *''Edvard Grieg in jazz mood'' (Universal Music, 2009). Vokalbesetning: Pitsj, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen,

Kåre Conradi Kåre Conradi (born 11 January 1972) is a Norwegian actor. Conradi was born in Asker and he is a graduate of the Norwegian Theatre Academy and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He made his stage debut at Oslo Nye Teater in 1989, was ...

, Torun Eriksen, Carsten Loly and

Bjørn Johan Muri Bjørn Johan Muri (born 4 January 1990) is a Norwegian singer known for having taken part in Series 5 '' Idol'' (the Norwegian ''Pop Idol'') in 2007 where he came runner-up. In 2010, he took part in the Norwegian qualification for the Eurovisi ...

Awards

Gammleng-prisen The Gammleng Award () is a Norwegian culture award created by ''The Fund for Performing Artists'' in 1982, 25 years after the fund was established in 1957. The award's official name is the ''Rolf Gammleng award to performing artists'' (). It's awa ...

1995 in the class Veterans.

Filmography (as composer)

*1962: ''Sønner av Norge kjøper bil'' *1963: '' Freske fraspark'' *1964: '' Marenco'' *1974: ''

Ante Ante or Antes may refer to: * Ante (cards), an initial stake paid in a card game * Ante (poker), a forced bet in the game of poker * Ante (name), Croatian form of the given name Anthony * The Latin word ''ante'', meaning "before", which is used as ...

'' (TV series)

References

External links

*
Biografi
and images from the Norwegian Music Information * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Karlsen, Kjell 20th-century Norwegian pianists 21st-century Norwegian pianists Norwegian jazz pianists Norwegian composers Norwegian male composers Norwegian bandleaders Musicians from Sarpsborg 1931 births 2020 deaths 20th-century Norwegian male musicians 21st-century Norwegian male musicians Norwegian male jazz pianists