Knut Riisnæs (born 13 November 1945) is a

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway *Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including the ...

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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

musician (

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

and

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

), arranger, and composer, son of pianist

Eline Nygaard Riisnæs Eline Nygaard Riisnæs (5 July 1913 – 3 February 2011) was a Norwegian pianist and musicologist at UiO, mother of the pianist and piano pedagog Anne Eline Riisnæs (1951-), and the saxophonists Knut Riisnæs (1945-) and Odd Riisnæs (1953- ...

and brother of classical pianist Anne Eline Riisnæs (1951–) and jazz saxophonist

Odd Riisnæs Odd Riisnæs (born 12 May 1953) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) and composer. He was born in Oslo, Norway, the son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs and the younger brother of jazz saxophonist Knut Riisnæs. He is known from a series of ...

(1953–). The brothers are both known from a variety of recordings in Norway and internationally.

Career

Riisnæs was born in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) 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 ...

, where he became central to the local jazz scene at an early age. He contributed to the

bebop Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumen ...

inspired records released by some of the greatest jazz musicians of Norway, and made his solo debut with the album ''Escape'', by Knut Borge characterized as "the basis of the Wizard

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of br ...

... by far the best Norwegian jazz production in 1982, besides

New Cool Quartet New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

". Ten years after he released

jazz standards Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list ...

on the album ''Confessin, whereupon Stein Kagge said that "Riisnæs have signed up as successor to the great Norwegian tenor saxophonists like

Arvid Gram Paulsen Arvid Gram Paulsen (born 4 January 1922 in Kristiania – 11 April 1963) was a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone and trumpet) and composer. Biography Gram Paulsen joined the orchestra at Oslo Swingklubb, and a new quartet with Lulle Kristoff ...

and

Bjarne Nerem Bjarne Arnulf Nerem (31 July 1923 in Oslo, Norway – 1 April 1991 in Oslo), was a Norwegian jazz musician (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone and clarinet) among the foremost soloists in Norwegian jazz. He was in the tradition of Lester Young, ...

...". After the third album with guitarist

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in the ...

and bassist

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

, Knut Borge repeated his impressions from 1982: "I know a few tenorist in the world so confidently like Riisnæs have seized the saxophone phrases

". The fourth album ''Touching'' was launched at the outdoor stage ''Blå'', and bass player

Arild Andersen Arild Andersen (born 27 October 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician bassist, known as the most famous Norwegian bass player in the international jazz scene. Career Andersen was born at Strømmen, Norway. He started his musical career as jazz g ...

referers that the Quartet "nursed an elastic expression with good grip on familiar dynamic effects". Riisnæs has worked with the leading Norwegian jazz musicians, like on

Karin Krog Karin Krog (born 15 May 1937) is a Norwegian 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 to sing in ...

(recording debut, 1966),

Egil Kapstad Egil Kapstad (6 August 1940 – 13 July 2017) was a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He wrote the music for more than 50 theatre productions, and composed for film and television drama. Kapstad composed classical works for orchestra ...

(1967),

Terje Rypdal Terje Rypdal (born 23 August 1947) is a Norwegian guitarist and composer. He has been an important member in the Norwegian jazz community, and has also given show concerts with guitarists Ronni Le Tekrø and Mads Eriksen as "N3". Career Rypdal ...

(1968),

Torgrim Sollid Torgrim Sollid (born 17 June 1942) is a Norwegian self-taught traditional folk musician, composer and jazz musician (trumpet, flugelhorn, and drums), known for combining folk music with jazz, and for playing in the Jan Garbarek Quartet and War ...

(''Østerdalsmusikk'', 1975),

Ketil Bjørnstad Ketil Bjørnstad (born 25 April 1952) is a pianist, composer and author. Initially trained as a classical pianist, Bjørnstad discovered jazz at an early age and has embraced the emergence of "European jazz". Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian) ...

(''Leve Patagonia'', 1978),

Radka Toneff Ellen Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer, daughter of the Bulgarian folk singer, pilot and radio technician Toni Toneff, she was born in Oslo and grew up in Lambertseter and Kolbotn. She is still conside ...

(1977),

Laila Dalseth Laila Dalseth (born 6 November 1940) is a Norwegian jazz singer. She was formerly married to the jazz saxophonist Theodor "Totti" Bergh (1935–2012). Career After an early debut in her hometown of Bergen, Dalseth was active on the Oslo jazz ...

(1978),

Pål Thowsen Pål Thowsen (born 15 July 1955) is a Norwegian jazz drummer. He has released several solo albums and received two Spellemannprisen awards. Career Thowsen was born in Lillestrøm, and started his career in the early 1970s as a musician in Ari ...

(1979), Kenneth Sivertsen (1985),

Per Husby Per Husby (born 2 April 1949 in Oslo) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, teacher, civil engineer, and orchestra leader. Career Husby was raised in Oslo together with other jazz enthusiasts like jazz journalist Knut Borge.Bjørn Alterhaug Bjørn Alterhaug (born 3 June 1945) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, arranger, composer and professor of music. Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian) Career Alterhaug was born in Mo i Rana, Norway. He is one of the grand masters among European basspl ...

(1991), Kjell Öhman (1993), with

Jan Gunnar Hoff Jan Gunnar Hoff (born 22 October 1958) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, arranger and professor, living in Bodø, known from cooperations with jazz musicians like Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Alex Acuña, Audun Kleive, Mathias Eick, John Surman, ...

Group (1992–), Sigurd Ulveseth Trio (1993–), "Radiostorbandet" (1971–90), a big band led by

Helge Hurum Helge Hurum (born 1 August 1936) is a Norwegian jazz musician, composer, arranger and musical director. Hurum has led several of Norway's key big bands, including the Oslo University Big Band (1969–74), Norway's Radio Big Band (1979–90), his ow ...

Jens Wendelboe Jens Wendelboe (born 28 February 1956 in Copenhagen, Denmark and raised in Oslo, Norway), is a Norwegian trombonist, composer, music arranger and orchestra leader, known from collaborations with artists like Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Bill Wat ...

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

and

Fred Nøddelund Fred Nøddelund (1 April 1947 – 18 August 2016) was a Norwegian jazz musician ( Flugelhorn), music arranger, record producer and bandleader known from several recordings and performances. He was festival composer at Moldejazz at a young age ('' ...

. From 2000, he has played with

Helge Iberg Helge Iberg (born 27 March 1954 in Skien, Norway) is a Norwegian contemporary composer. Iberg studied musicology, history of ideas and religious studies at the University of Oslo under the tutorship of composers Olav Anton Thommessen and Ragnar ...

, in "Sharp 9" (2004–), in a Quartet with

Ivar Antonsen Ivar Antonsen (born April 16, 1946, in Fauske, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer and had his debut at the Oslo jazz scene in 1967 together with Jan Garbarek, Palle Mikkelborg, Arild Andersen, and Espen Rud. Career Antonsen st ...

(piano),

Terje Gewelt Terje Gewelt (born 8 June 1960) is a Norwegian jazz musician (Double bass, upright bass). Career Gewelt was born in Oslo and raised in Larvik, a small town on the southeastern coast of Norway. He started playing guitar at the age of 10, swit ...

(bass) and

Espen Rud Espen Rud (born 29 January 1948 in Asker, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums), composer, and music arranger, and the son of Norwegian author Nils Johan Rud (1908–93). He is known from numerous recordings and in collaboration with Kari ...

(drums) (2004–), and in Ditlef Eckhoff Quintet. Riisnæs toured with saxophone trio

Petter Wettre Petter Wettre (born 11 August 1967) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (Saxophone) and composer, known from a number of album recordings, accompanied by receiving the Spellemannprisen two times. Career Wettre was born and raised in Sandefjord. H ...

and

Frode Nymo Frode Nymo (born 27 November 1975), is a Norwegian jazz musician ( alto Saxophone), and older brother of the tenor sax. player Atle Nymo. Career Nymo was born in Egersund and brought up in Valnesfjord, near Fauske. Early in his career, he ...

(2005) initiated by

Rikskonsertene Concerts Norway ( no, Rikskonsertene) was established in 1967 on the initiative of the Arts Council Norway ( no, Norsk kulturråd), with its main purpose described as follows: "Concerts Norway is to make living music of high artistic quality acces ...

, with material premiered at

Kongsberg Jazz Festival Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964. Artists Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival; internation ...

2004. The trio with

in the lead, released the album ''State of the Art'' (2005). Riisnæs played at

Hurtigruten ''Hurtigruten'' (), formally Kystruten Bergen-Kirkenes ("coastal route Bergen- Kirkenes"), is a Norwegian public coastal route transporting passengers that travel locally, regionally and between the ports of call, and also cargo between ports no ...

in 2007 and performed ''Bleak House'' with

Moldejazz Molde International Jazz Festival (MIJF) or Moldejazz (established 1961 in Molde) takes place annually in July, and is known as one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It was initiated by the local Storyville Jazz Club. Since 1964 it has rec ...

the same year. In 2009 he was in the line-up with Tore Johansen Quartet and Håvard Stubø Quartet. In 2010 he was ''artist in residence'' at Jazznatt, contributed at Carl Størmer's JazzCode, and recorded an album with Lars Jansson,

Mats Eilertsen Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, Sve ...

and Carl Størmer.

Honors

*Norwegian government grant 1979 *

Buddyprisen Buddyprisen (established 1956 in Oslo, Norway) 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". The award was a ...

1981 *

Spellemannprisen Spellemannprisen, often referred to as the Norwegian Grammy Awards in English, is a Norwegian music award presented to Norwegian musicians. The award was established by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organizati ...

1982 in the class Jazz, for the record ''Flukt'' *

1992 in the class Jazz, for the record ''Featuring Scofield and Danielsson'' *

Gammleng-prisen The Gammleng Award ( no, Gammleng-prisen) 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 art ...

1992

Discography

*1975: ''Nordic Jazz Quintet'' ( Storyville, recorded 8 October 1974) with

Jukka Tolonen Jukka Jorma Tolonen (born 16 April 1952) is a Finnish jazz guitarist.Lönnqvist, Niclas.Jukka Tolonen är musikern av Guds nåde (in Swedish), Hufvudstadsbladet, August 3, 2018. Tolonen became famous as guitarist for the progressive rock band T ...

(guitar), Ole Kock Hansen (piano), Kjell Jannson (bass), and Petur Östlund (drums). *1982: ''Flukt'' (

Odin Odin (; from non, Óðinn, ) is a widely revered Æsir, god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, v ...

, 1982), awarded

1982, with

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 Na ...

(piano),

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 ...

(bass) and

Jon Christensen Jon Christensen may refer to: * Jon Christensen (musician) Jon Ivar Christensen (20 March 1943 – 18 February 2020) was a Norwegian jazz drummer. He was married to actress, minister, and theater director Ellen Horn, Store Norske Leksikon (in ...

(drums). *1991: ''Confessin' the blues'' (Gemini), with

Red Holloway James Wesley "Red" Holloway (May 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Born in Helena, Arkansas,Daniel E. Slotnik"Red Holloway, Swinger of the Sax, Dies at 84" ''The New York Times'', February 28, 2012 ...

. *1992: ''Featuring

and

'' (

Odin Records Odin Records is a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz record company and label founded in 1981 by the Norwegian Jazz Federation, when there were not many independent record labels in Norway. Only major international record companies were to be found in O ...

), with

, awarded

1992 and

1992. *2001: ''Touching'' (Resonant), compositions inspired by

and

Joe Henderson Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent l ...

with

(piano),

Frank Jakobsen Frank Jakobsen (born 28 April 1954) is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums), known from a number of recordings, and central to the jazz scenes in Bergen and Oslo. Career Jakobsen was born and raised in Bergen, where he played in local groups li ...

(drums) and

(bass), nominated for

. *2016: ''2'nd Thoughts'' (

Losen Records Losen Records (initiated 2010 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label founded by Odd Gjelsnes at the distribution company MusikkLosen. Background The distribution company MusikkLosen was founded in 1997 by Odd Gjelsnes, and Losen Records, wh ...

) *2018: ''The Kernel'' (Losen Records)

References

External links

Knut Riisnæs Biography

Store Norske Leksikon The ''Great Norwegian Encyclopedia'' ( no, Store Norske Leksikon, abbreviated ''SNL''), is a Norwegian-language online encyclopedia. The online encyclopedia is among the most-read Norwegian published sites, with more than two million unique vis ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riisnaes, Knut Norwegian jazz saxophonists Norwegian jazz composers Spellemannprisen winners Gemini Records artists ECM Records artists 1945 births Living people Musicians from Oslo 21st-century saxophonists Oslo Groove Company members