Odin Records is a Norwegian jazz record company and label founded in 1981 by the Norwegian Jazz Federation, when there were not many

independent record labels An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

in Norway. Only major international record companies were to be found in

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

, so Odin soon became the most important national label for contemporary Norwegian jazz. The catalogue encompasses

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 ...

improvised music Musical improvisation (also known as musical extemporization) is the creative activity of immediate ("in the moment") musical composition, which combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous ...

ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that had its peak from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its Syncopation, syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers ...

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

. The bestseller is the internationally acclaimed Radka Toneff. In 1994 Odin Records was licensed to

Curling Legs __NOTOC__ Curling Legs Productions A/S (established 1992 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label with a catalogue encompassing all styles of jazz and improvised music. It was started by Knut Værnes and Morten Halle to release their own m ...

, owned by Knut Værnes,

Morten Halle Morten Halle (born 7 October 1957) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone), composer and music arranger. He was born in Oslo, and he is known from the city's jazz scene and from a series recordings. (in Norwegian) Career Halle participated in ...

, and Helge Westbye.

Discography

*1981: Thorgeir Stubø, ''Notice'' (Odin NJ 4001–2) *1982:

Dag Arnesen Dag Syver Arnesen (born 3 May 1950) is a Norwegian jazz pianist with a series of album releases. Career Arnesen was born in Bergen, and studied classical piano under Jiri Hlinka at the Bergen Music Conservatory and got a commitment by Den ...

, ''Ny Bris'' (Odin NJ 4002–2) *1982: Radka Toneff and Steve Dobrogosz, ''Fairytales'' (Odin NJ 4003–2) *1982: Cutting Edge, ''Cutting Edge'' (Odin LP 04) *1982: Knut Riisnæs, ''Flukt'' (Odin NJ 4005–2) *1982: The Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra (Odin LP 06) *1982: Oslo 13, ''Anti Therapy'' (Odin NJ 4007–2) *1983: Masqualero (Odin NJ 4008–2) *1983: Anne Marie Giørtz Kvintett, ''Breaking out'' (Odin NJ 4009–2) *1983: Cutting Edge, ''Our man in paradise'', Odin LP 10) *1983: Thorgeir Stubø, ''Live at Jazz Alive'' (Odin LP 11) *1983:

Søyr Søyr (established 1976 in Trondheim, Norway) is a Norwegian musical group, led from the start of trumpeter Torgrim Sollid. Biography Søyr was initially inspired by folk music from Stor-Elvdal Municipality (among others Ole Mørk Sandvik) ...

, ''Cierny Peter'' (Odin LP 12) *1984: Espen Rud, ''Hotelsuite'' (Odin LP 13) *1984: Tamma with Don Cherry and

Ed Blackwell Edward Joseph Blackwell (October 10, 1929 – October 7, 1992) was an American jazz drummer, best known known for his work with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Biography Blackwell was born in New Orleans on October 10, 1929. His career began ther ...

(Odin NJ 4014–2) *1985: Anne Marie Giørtz Band, ''Tigers of pain'' (Odin NJ 4015–2) *1986: Lille Frøen Saksofonkvartett, ''4 menn'' (Odin LP 16) *1986:

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 ...

and

John Surman John Douglas Surman (born 30 August 1944) is an English jazz saxophone, Clarinet family, clarinet, and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music. He has composed and performed music for danc ...

, ''Freestyle'' (Odin NJ 4017–2) *1986: Norwegian Radio Big Band, ''The Norwegian Radio Big Band Meets

Bob Florence Bob Florence (May 20, 1932 – May 15, 2008) was an American pianist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Career A child prodigy, Florence began piano lessons before he was five years old and at seven gave his first recital. Although hi ...

'' (Odin LP 18) *1986:

Jon Eberson Jon Arild Eberson (born 6 January 1953) is a Norwegian jazz guitarist and composer, the son of jazz guitarist Leif Eberson (1925–1970), and the father of keyboardist Marte Maaland Eberson. He was a member of the bands Moose Loose (1973–77), ...

, ''Stash'' (Odin NJ 4019–2) *1986: The Brazz Brothers'', Brazzy Landscapes'' (Odin NJ 4020–2) *1987: Bjørn Johansen, ''Take One'' (Odin NJ 4021–2) *1987: Oslo 13, ''Off Balance'' (Odin NJ 4022–2) *1988: Out to Lunch (Odin NJ 4023–2) *1987: Armen Donelian, Carl Morten Iversen and

Audun Kleive Audun Kleive (born 20 October 1961) is a Norwegian jazz drummer.) He was raised in Skien and is the son of organist Kristoffer Kleive and brother of organist Iver Kleive. Career Kleive began to play drums in a rock and dance band, and then went ...

, ''Trio '87'' (Odin NJ 4024–2) *1987: Circulasione Totale Orchestra, ''Accent'' (Odin NJ 4025–2) *1988:

Tore Brunborg Tore Brunborg (born 20 May 1960) is a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz musician and composer who plays saxophone. He was born in Trondheim but grew up in Voss where a jazz environment was flowering. Known from numerous appearances with international g ...

Vigleik Storaas Vigleik Storaas (born 2 February 1963) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, and the younger brother of composer and bassist Gaute Storaas. He is known from a series of album releases and collaborations with jazz musicians such as Norma Wins ...

, Olaf Kamfjord and Trond Kopperud, ''Lines'' (Odin NJ 4026–2) *1989: Elin Rosselands Fair Play, ''Fair Play'' (Odin NJ 4027–2) *1989: ''Odin Sampler'' (Odin NJ 4028–2) *1989: Brazz Bros, ''Live at Oslo Jazzhus'' (Odin NJ 4029–2) *1989:

Bjørn Kjellemyr Bjørn Kjellemyr (born 4 December 1950 in Bamble, Norway) is a jazz double bassist, known from a variety of musical contexts like Terje Rypdal & The Chasers, Joe Henderson, Bob Berg, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Dag Arnesen, K ...

and Svein Christiansen, ''Renascent'' (Odin NJ-4030 2) *1990: Extended Noise, ''Slow but Sudden – Langsam, aber Plötzlich'' (Odin NJ 4031–2) *1990:

, Finn Sletten, ''Blow!'' (Odin NJ 4032–2) *1990: Per Husby, ''Notes for Nature'' (Odin NJ 4033–1) *1991:

Jon Balke Jon Georg Balke (born 7 June 1955) is a Norwegian jazz pianist who leads the group Siwan. He is the younger brother of saxophonist Erik Balke. Career Balke started playing classical piano but switched to blues at 12, though he performs withi ...

, Per Jørgensen and

, ''On and On'' (Odin NJ 4034–1) *1991: Bjørn Alterhaug, ''Constellations'' (Odin NJ 4035–2) *1991: Talisman Group, ''Dating'' (Odin NJ 4036–2) *1991: Danish Radio Big Band, ''Nordjazz Big 5'' (Odin NJ 4037–2) *1991: Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra, ''Plays classic ragtime & popular hits 1900 – 1931'' (Odin NJ 4038–2) *1991: Orleysa (Odin NJ 4039–2) *1992: Knut Riisnæs / Jon Christensen – Featuring

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...

and

Palle Danielsson Nils Paul "Palle" Danielsson (15 October 1946 – 18 May 2024) was a Swedish jazz double bassist born in Stockholm, Sweden. From 1974 to 1979, he was a member of Keith Jarrett's quartet. He was the brother of pianist Monica Dominique. Daniels ...

(Odin NJ 4040–2) *1991:

Jazzpunkensemblet Jazzpunkensemblet (established 1983 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz ensemble orchestra led by the famous musicians Jon Eberson on guitar and Nils Petter Molvær on trumpet, and known for a clean style duel between two rhythm sections, and the ...

, ''Live at Rockefeller'' (Odin NJ 4041–2) *1992: Frank Jakobsen, Carl Morten Iversen and

Rob Waring Rob Waring (born December 3, 1956, in Yonkers, New York) is an American-Norwegian Contemporary music composer and performer (drums and vibraphone), commonly associated with symphony orchestras and jazz ensembles. Career Waring studied with Ro ...

, ''Secret Red Thread'' (Odin NJ 4042–2) *1992: Rune Klakegg Trio, ''Anaerobics'' (Odin NJ 4043–2) *1992: Radka Toneff, ''Live in Hamburg'' (Odin NJ 4044–2) *1992: First Set, ''Going'' (Odin NJ 4045–2) *1992: Jan Gunnar Hoff, ''Syklus'' (Odin NJ 4046–2) *1993: Ingeborg Hungnes and Terje Venaas, '' Toner fra Romsdal'' (Odin NJ 4047–2) *1993: Orleysa, ''Svanshornet'' (Odin NJ 4048–2) *1993: Airamero (Odin NJ 4049–2) *1993:

Lee Konitz Leon "Lee" Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist and composer. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's ass ...

/ John Pål Inderberg / Erling Aksdal / Bjørn Alterhaug, ''Steps Towards a Dream'' (Odin NJ 4050–2) *1993: Knut Kristiansen, ''Monk Moods'' (Odin NJ 4051–2) *1993: Talisman Group, ''Vardøger'' (Odin NJ 4052–2) *1993: ''Odin Sampler 2'' (Odin NJ 4053–2) *1993:

Svein Finnerud Svein Finnerud (2 September 1945 – 22 June 2000) was a Norwegian jazz pianist, painter and graphic artist. Career Finnerud was educated at Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole (1967–72), under guidance of Chrix Dahl and had several ex ...

Trio, ''Plastic Sun'' (Odin NJ 4054–2) *2017: Helge Iberg, ''Jazzkammer'' (ODINCD 9563)

References

External links

Curling Legs Official Website
{{Authority control Norwegian record labels Record labels established in 1981 Norwegian jazz Culture in Oslo Jazz record labels 1981 establishments in Norway Norse mythology in music