Per Husby

Per Husby (born 2 April 1949 in Oslo)^[1] is a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, teacher, civil engineer, and orchestra leader known for a number of recordings.

Career

Husby was raised in Oslo together with jazz enthusiasts like jazz journalist Knut Borge, and their jazz interest flourished in postwar Oslo.^[2]

He studied piano at the Music Conservatory of Oslo (1962–67), and became a siv.ing. in acoustics (under Asbjørn Krokstad) at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (1973), followed up with studies in jazz at Berklee in Boston. In Trondheim (1971–80) he worked with the local big band Bodega Band where he (and bassist Jan Tro) wrote a large amount of music on many recordings. Later, Husby played in groups led by Asmund Bjørken and Bjørn Alterhaug, and was a musical director at the local theatre Trøndelag Teater (1975–80).

Husby led his own septet, (1975–78), quintet (1980–83), and released records with his 13-piece Per Husby Dedication Orchestra (13 tracks).

In Oslo (1980-) he was leader of the Federation of Norwegian Jazz musicians (1983–85), and co-edited the Norwegian Jazz Magazine Jazznytt (1981–84). He became publicly best known through 20 years' regular engagements as a pianist/orchestra leader on Norwegian TV Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, including 11 years as a musical director for the "memory lane" TV series Da Capo.

Husby has produced and played with Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen, and plays in tenor saxophonist Bodil Niska quartet as well as with singer Laila Dalseth. He has through the years worked as an accompanist for several visiting jazz soloists such as Chet Baker (heard on The Improviser, Cadence Jazz Records), Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, James Moody and Karin Krog.

Honors

• 1985: Molderosen at the Moldejazz
• 1985: Work of the year 1985, elected by the composer's organisation NOPA in for Poesi
• 1985: Spellemannprisen in the class Jazz, for the album Dedications
• 198p: Buddyprisen by The Norwegian jazz federation's honorary award

Discography

• Per Husby septet, Peacemaker (LP /CD 1976 Gemini Records, 2003). With Knut Riisnæs/Bjørn Johansen/Harald Bergersen saxophone Bernt Anker Steen trumpet, Carl Morten Iversen bass and Svein-Erik Gaardvik drums
• The Improviser Chet Baker (Cadence Jazz Records, 1983). With Chet Baker, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Espen Rud, Ole Jacob Hansen and Terje Venaas
• The Per Husby Dedication Orchestra, Dedications (Hot Club Records, 1985) won Spellemannprisen 1985,
• The Per Husby Dedication Orchestra, Your eyes (NOPA Records, 1987).
• Notes for nature (Odin Records, 1990)- including jazz adaptions of his music for the prize-winning TV documentary NRK-programme 2048 (1988))
• If you could see me now (Gemini Records, 1996). Recorded in New York City with Frank Wess, Grady Tate, Jim Pugh, Jay Leonhart, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chris Potter, Howard Johnson a.o.
• Anne Lande and Husby, Sakte sanger (Park Grammofon, 2006) with music by Alf Prøysen, Inger Hagerup, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others
• Anne Lande and Husby, Helt Nær (Park Grammofon, 2009).

Works

• Poesi (1985)
• Two pieces for brass quintet"(1987),
• Stråler mellom fjell (2000)
• Inverness wedding (2001)
• Mythos (2002)

• Vårsong/For ein dag (2002)
• Half a nice day (2002).

References

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