Morten Gunnar Larsen | |
|---|---|
 Larsen in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1 October 1955 Oslo, Norway |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | Hot Club, Herman, Decca |
| Website | opheliaragtime.com |
Morten Gunnar Larsen (born 1 October 1955) [1] is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, well known for several stride piano recordings and collaborations. [2]
Larsen studied classical piano at Norges Musikkhøgskole (1978). In 1975 he had his debut records, Classic Rags and Stomps, for which he won Spellemannprisen in 1976. [1] He next founded Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra in 1977 and performed with stride pianist Eubie Blake, for whom Larsen composed Memories of Eubie. Larsen worked in New Orleans over longer periods of time, resulting in a tour and the performance One mo' time (1979–81) written by Vernel Bagneris. [3]
Larsen's collaboration with Bagneris continued with the performance Jelly Roll!! – The Music and the Man, dedicated Jelly Roll Morton, and performed at Oslo Jazzfestival 1990. It also had eleven months at Off-Broadway (1994–95) and was released as a CD (GHB, 1996). This work gave Larsen the OBIE Award 1995. He had earlier received the Buddy Award of Foreningen norske jazzmusikeres "Årets jazzmusiker" (1992) in his home country. He participated in several recordings in the Magnolia Jazzband (1974–93) and Ytre Suløens Jassensemble up until 1992 and has participated in Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo (2011–present). [2]
Ragtime – also spelled rag-time or rag time – is a musical style that enjoyed its peak popularity between 1895 and 1919. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm.
James Price Johnson was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key figures in the evolution of ragtime into what was eventually called jazz. Johnson was a major influence on Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, and Fats Waller, who was his student.
Christian August Sinding was a Norwegian composer. He is best known for his lyrical work for piano, Frühlingsrauschen. He was often compared to Edvard Grieg and regarded as his successor.
Karin Krog is a Norwegian jazz singer. She is the great granddaughter of Anders Heyerdahl (1832–1918), a Norwegian composer, musician, genealogist, folklorist and local historian, and married (1957–2001) to the jazz journalist Johannes (Johs.) Bergh (1932–2001).
The Slow drag is an American ragtime jazz musical form and the social dance for which the music was written. It has been resurrected as part of blues dancing. Music written for the dance is often short-handed into the song title as a "Drag"
Rudi Blesh was an American jazz critic and enthusiast.
Terry Waldo is an American pianist, composer, and historian of early jazz, blues, and stride music, and is best known for his contribution to ragtime and his role in reviving interest in this form, starting in the 1970s. Says Wynton Marsalis in his introduction to Waldo's book: "He teaches Ragtime, he talks about Ragtime, he plays it, he embodies it, he lives it, and he keeps Ragtime alive." The book, This is Ragtime, published in 1976, grew out of the series of the same title that Waldo produced for NPR in 1974. Waldo is also a theatrical music director, producer, vocalist, and teacher. He is noted for his wit and humor in performance, as "a monologist in the dry, Middle Western tradition." Eubie Blake describes his first impression of Waldo's performance thus: "I died laughing...that's one of the hardest things to do—make people laugh. Terry's ability to do this, combined with his musicianship, actually reminds me of Fats Waller."
Morten Qvenild is a Norwegian jazz pianist, band leader, and producer.
Buddyprisen is an award, given annually by the Norwegian Jazz Forum to a Norwegian jazz musician that has "been an excellent performer and significantly involved in Norwegian jazz by other means".
Bjørn Kjellemyr 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, Knut Riisnæs, Jon Eberson, Bugge Wesseltoft, Audun Kleive, Jon Balke, Jan Gunnar Hoff and Ketil Bjørnstad.
Kristian Hauger was a Norwegian pianist, orchestra leader and composer of popular music from the late 1920s to mid 1950s.
Willy Andresen was a Norwegian jazz pianist.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1991 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1968 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1959 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1955 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1930 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1928 in Norwegian music.
The following is a list of notable events and releases of the year 1912 in Norwegian music.
Nils Larsen was a Norwegian pianist, composer, and pedagogue. He was one of Norway's leading pianists before the Second World War and was an influential promoter of Norwegian piano performance.
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morten Gunnar Larsen . |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Stein Erik Tafjord | Recipient of the Buddyprisen 1992 | Succeeded by Egil Johansen |
