Odin Records 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 ...

jazz record company and label founded in 1981 by the

Norwegian Jazz Federation Norsk Jazzforum or The Norwegian Jazz Forum (originally established in 1953, and later reappeared on June 8, 1997 in Oslo, when The Norwegian Jazz Federation and Association Norwegian Jazz Musicians fused into The Norwegian Jazz Forum) is a member a ...

, 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- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represente ...

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

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

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 flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...

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 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 ...

. 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 mus ...

, owned by

Knut Værnes Knut Værnes (born 1 April 1954) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar), composer and band leader, known from several recordings in the jazz rock genre. He grew up at Bøler in Oslo, where he became an accomplished guitarist. Career Værnes wa ...

, Morten Halle, and Helge Westbye.

Discography

*1981: Thorgeir Stubø, ''Notice'' (Odin NJ 4001–2) *1982: Dag Arnesen, ''Ny Bris'' (Odin NJ 4002–2) *1982:

and

Steve Dobrogosz Steve Dobrogosz (born 26 January 1956 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania) is an American composer, songwriter and pianist. Dobrogosz is the son of Walter Dobrogosz and Donna Bartone and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended Jesse O. Sanderson ...

, ''Fairytales'' (Odin NJ 4003–2) *1982: Cutting Edge, ''Cutting Edge'' (Odin LP 04) *1982:

Knut Riisnæs Knut Riisnæs (born 13 November 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone and flute), arranger, and composer, son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs and brother of classical pianist Anne Eline Riisnæs (1951–) and jazz saxophonist Odd Riis ...

, ''Flukt'' (Odin NJ 4005–2) *1982: The Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra (Odin LP 06) *1982:

Oslo 13 1300 Oslo (active from 1979 in Oslo, Norway) was a Norwegian jazz band originally called Oslo 13 (1979–93), founded and operated the first two years by Bror Hagemann and continuated by Jon Balke. In 1994 the band got a joint leadership with Tr ...

, ''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 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 f ...

'' (Odin LP 11) *1983: Søyr, ''Cierny Peter'' (Odin LP 12) *1984: Espen Rud, ''Hotelsuite'' (Odin LP 13) *1984: Tamma with

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

and Ed Blackwell (Odin NJ 4014–2) *1985: Anne Marie Giørtz Band, ''Tigers of pain'' (Odin NJ 4015–2) *1986:

Lille Frøen Saksofonkvartett Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Pref ...

, ''4 menn'' (Odin LP 16) *1986:

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 ...

and

John Surman John Douglas Surman (born 30 August 1944) is an English jazz saxophone, bass 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 dance performanc ...

, ''Freestyle'' (Odin NJ 4017–2) *1986:

Norwegian Radio Big Band 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 ...

, ''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, ''Stash'' (Odin NJ 4019–2) *1986:

The Brazz Brothers The Brazz Brothers, alias Brazz Bros (established 1981 in Langevåg, Sula, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz band. They are articularly known for their improvisations, and for the cooperation with Lester Bowie. Biography Brazz Brothers was initi ...

'', Brazzy Landscapes'' (Odin NJ 4020–2) *1987: Bjørn Johansen, ''Take One'' (Odin NJ 4021–2) *1987:

, ''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 wen ...

, ''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 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 greats includ ...

, Vigleik Storaas, 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: Dag Arnesen,

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 Extended Noise (established 1982) was a Norwegian Jazz Quintet. Their first album ''Keep nose in front'' (1984) under the name AHA was released after an acclaimed appearance at Moldejazz 1983, followed by the Extended nose album ''Jamaha'' (1986) ...

, ''Slow but Sudden – Langsam, aber Plötzlich'' (Odin NJ 4031–2) *1990: Morten Halle, Jon Eberson,

, Finn Sletten, ''Blow!'' (Odin NJ 4032–2) *1990:

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

Per Jørgensen Per Jørgensen (born 9 September 1952) is a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist with trumpet as his main instrument, also known for his vocal contributions, in collaboration with Dag Arnesen, Knut Kristiansen, Alex Riel, Jon Christensen, Jon Bal ...

and

, ''On and On'' (Odin NJ 4034–1) *1991:

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 bassp ...

, ''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:

/ Jon Christensen – Featuring

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 th ...

and

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 ...

(Odin NJ 4040–2) *1991: Jazzpunkensemblet, ''Live at Rockefeller'' (Odin NJ 4041–2) *1992: Frank Jakobsen, Carl Morten Iversen and Rob Waring, ''Secret Red Thread'' (Odin NJ 4042–2) *1992: Rune Klakegg Trio, ''Anaerobics'' (Odin NJ 4043–2) *1992:

, ''Live in Hamburg'' (Odin NJ 4044–2) *1992: First Set, ''Going'' (Odin NJ 4045–2) *1992:

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, ...

, ''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 / John Pål Inderberg /

Erling Aksdal Erling Aksdal Jr. (born 18 February 1953 in Molde, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, known from playing with the likes of Warne Marsh, Chet Baker, Herb Pomeroy, Bob Mover, Mick Goodrick, Ralph Moore, Lee Konitz, John Pål Inderb ...

, ''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 Trio, ''Plastic Sun'' (Odin NJ 4054–2) *2017:

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 ...

, ''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