Harald Halvorsen (musician)


Harald Andreas Halvorsen is a Norwegian musician, known from bands like Egil Monn Iversen's Big Band, The Gambian-Norwegian Friendship Orchestra, Jens Wendelboe Big Band, The Norwegian Radio Big Band and The Rainbow Band.

Career

Halvorsen was raised in Haugesund, where he led his own big band in 1970'es, before he moved to Bergen to attend studies at the Bergen Musikkonservatorium. In Bergen he had a quintet with saxophonist Øystein Søbstad. They participated in Norwegian Jazz Association anniversary concerts 1973. He was also a member of the ensamble Lyderhorn, led The Bergen Ballade Orkester, which had its festival debut Kongsberg Jazzfestival 1974. He led his own quartet from 1974, besides participation in the band Octopus, Bergen Big Band, Dag Arnesen Septet among others.
Halvorsen translocated to Oslo in 1978, for employment in Forsvarets Stabsmusikk. As jazz musician he continued within bands like Østereng/Hurums Radiostorband with album releases in 1986 and 1987, Geir Hauger Sextet and Vestlandssekstetten. In addition he collaborated with bands like Søyr, Erling Aksdal, Per Husby, Monk Memorial dan Hansen/Gundhus Big Band. He participated on recordings with The Gambian-Norwegian Friendship Orchestra, Jens Wendelboe Big Band, Kjell Karlsen Big Band and Jens Wendelboe Big Crazy Energy Band.
From 1990 Halvorsen was simultaneously active in three smaller bands, "Bone Brothers" with Frode Thingnæs, the octet Cool-In-West, as well as a band holding his own name. In larger format, he participated on the album A tribute to Frank Sinatra with Bjørn Jørgensen Big Band, Live at Lancelot with Storeslem and Takin' Off with Per Borthen Swing Dept, the last two recorded in 2007. In 2006–07 he collaborated with John Surman's Rainbow Band.

Discography

;With Jan Eggum
;With Laila Dalseth
;With Pål Thowsen
;With The Gambian-Norwegian Friendship Orchestra
;With Jens Wendelboe
;With Sylfest Strutle
;With The Norwegian Radio Big Band
;With Sigvart Dagsland
;With Odd Riisnæs Project
;With Bjørn Johansen
;With The Rainbow Band, directed by John Surman