Morten Gunnar Larsen
Encyclopedia
Morten Gunnar Larsen is a Norwegian
pianist
, well known for several stride piano
recordings and collaborations.]] Larsen studied classical
piano at Norges Musikkhøgskole (1978). In 1975 he had his debut records, Classic Rags and Stomps, for which he won Spellemannprisen 1976. He next founded Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra in 1977 and performed with
stride pianist Eubie Blake
, to 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
.
Larsens 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 published as CD (GHB, 1996). This work gave Larsen the OBIE Award
1995. He had earlier received the Buddy Award og Foreningen norske jazzmusikeres «Årets jazzmusiker» (1992) in his home country Norway.
He participated in several recordings in the Magnolia Jazzband (1974–93) and Ytre Suløens Jassensemble up until 1992.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, well known for several stride piano
Stride piano
Harlem Stride Piano, Stride Piano, or just Stride, is a jazz piano style that was developed in the large cities of the East Coast, mainly in the New York, during 1920s and 1930s. The left hand may play a four-beat pulse with a single bass note, octave, seventh or tenth interval on the first and...
recordings and collaborations.]] Larsen studied classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
piano at Norges Musikkhøgskole (1978). In 1975 he had his debut records, Classic Rags and Stomps, for which he won Spellemannprisen 1976. He next founded Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra in 1977 and performed with
stride pianist Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
, to 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
Vernel Bagneris
Vernel Martin Bagneris , playwright, actor, director, singer, and dancer, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the third child of Gloria Diaz Bagneris and Lawrence Bagneris Sr. Bagneris’s mother was a housewife and deeply religious woman who “quietly outclassed most people,” and his father was a...
.
Larsens collaboration with Bagneris continued with the performance Jelly Roll!! - the music and the man, dedicated Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, and performed at Oslo Jazzfestival 1990. It also had eleven months at Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
(1994–95) and published as CD (GHB, 1996). This work gave Larsen the OBIE Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
1995. He had earlier received the Buddy Award og Foreningen norske jazzmusikeres «Årets jazzmusiker» (1992) in his home country Norway.
He participated in several recordings in the Magnolia Jazzband (1974–93) and Ytre Suløens Jassensemble up until 1992.
Solo recordings
- Don't you leave me here (1978),
- plays Robert Clemente (1981),
- Echo of spring (Hot Club RecordsHot Club RecordsHot Club Records is a Record company established 1982, by guitar player Jon Larsen. More than 350 released CDs, DVDs and books, mostly jazz related.Some artists on Hot Club Records: Chet Baker, Philip Catherine, Warne Marsh, and the poet Jan Erik Vold....
, 1983), - Maple leaf rag (Herman Records, 1989),
- Charleston Rag collection(Herman Records, 1995)
- Ragtime and rhapsody live from a 1997 concert in LevangerLevangerLevanger is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherred region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Levanger...
(Herman Records, 2005), - Fingerbreaker (DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, 1999). - Rhapsody (2000). With G. M. Reiss.