Helge Andreas Norbakken

Helge Andreas Norbakken
Background information
Born	1965 (age 50–51) Tromsø, Troms
Origin	Norway
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Drums
Website	www.norbakken.no/helge

Helge Norbakken
in Aarhus, Denmark 2015
Photo Hreinn Gudlaugsson

Helge Andreas Norbakken (born 1965 in Tromsø, Norway) is a Norwegian musician with drums and percussion as principal instruments, married to Dagrun Hjelleset Norbakken (b. 1969), and known for his collaborations with artists such as Mari Boine, Jon Balke (MNO/Bathagraf/Siwan),^[1][2] Kari Bremnes, Maria Joao,^[3] Karl Seglem, Becaye Aw, Miki N'Doye, Jovan Pavlovic, and Anne Wylie.^[4][5]

Career

Norbakken is a graduate of the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1985–88),^[6] and is one of the most renowned Scandinavian percussionists.^[7] He started going on international venues within Mari Boine Band, and recorded Goaskjinvellja, Lehakastin, Ballvvoslatina, and live Eallin (1997) with her, then continued with Maria Joao, Jon Balke, Kari Brenmes, Ayub Ogada and an impressive list of Norwegian and international musicians.

After working with arvmusic on Mari Boine's tours, he recorded and played live with Ayub Ogada (in trio with Giovanni Amighetti and with a full big band including sound engineer Geir Ostensio, Gjermund Silset, Giovanni Amighetti and Roger Ludvigsen), Vladimir Denissenkov, Tiziana Ghiglioni in "La voce del Mondo" and Guo Yue with Shan Qi. Norbakken developed a very original percussions style, based on sound research, hand-made instruments and original timbres merge. Everything go into strict multirythmical patterns those remember at the same moment Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Doudou N'Dyae Rose works... In studio he is a master in creating particular structures using (many) tracks and percussions over recordings.

Discography (in selection)

With Mari Boine

• 1993: Goaskinviellja – Ørnebror – Eagle brother (Lean)
• 1994: Leahkastin (Lean, Verve World)
• 1996: Radiant Warmth (Antilles)
• 1997: Eallin – Live (Antilles)
• 1998: Balvoslatnja – Room of worship (Antilles)
• 2001: Winter in Moscow (Jaro Medien GmbH), feat. Inna Zhelannaya & Sergey Starostin

With Kari Bremnes 1998: Svarta Bjørn (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2001: Desemberbarn (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2005: Over en by (Reise) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2007: Live (Reise) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2009: Ly (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2012: Og Så Kom Resten Av Livet (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) With Maria Joao & Mario Laginha 2000: Chorrinho Feliz (Verve) 2001: Mumadji (EmArcy) 2002: Undercovers (EmArcy, Universal) 2004: Tralha (Universal Portugal) 2009: Chocolate (Decca International) 2011: Follow the Songlines (Naive), with David Linx & Diederik Wissels With Anne Wylie 2001: One And Two (Biber Records) 2003: Silver Apples of the Moon (Biber Records) 2008: Deep Waters (Biber Records) With Karl Seglem 2004: Femstein (NorCD) 2007: Urbs (NorCD) With Jon Balke 2004: Diverted Travels (ECM), within Magnetic North Orchestra 2005: Statements (ECM), within Batagraf 2009: Siwan (ECM), within Siwan 2011: Say And Play (ECM), within Batagraf With Jon Hassell 2009: Last Night The Moon Came Dropping It's Clothes in the Street (ECM Records) With Frode Alnæs 2012: Envy The Man (Big Box Music) With Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Elin Rosseland 2014: Ekko (MNJ Records)

With other projects 1987: Vol. IV (Studentersamfundets Plateselskap), within Bodega Band 1993: Shaken But Not Stirred (Curling Legs), with "Palisander Kvartetten» 1994: Langt nord I livet (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), with Erik Bye 1996: Hvit Pil, with Hege Rimestad 1997: PIP, with Steinar Ofsdal 1997: Salimie, with Ayub Ogada, Giovanni Amighetti, Gjermund Silset, Roger Ludvigsen (Intuition) 1997: Kuling I Skyggen (Bare Bra Musikk), with "Reiseradioen & Solskinnsgutta" (Gisle Børge Styve) 1998: La voce del mondo, with Tiziana Ghiglioni, Giovanni Amighetti, Roger Ludvigsen, Gjermund Silset (Arvmusic/IRD) 2000: Anastasia, with Vladimir Denissenkov, Gjermund Silset (Arvmusic/IRD) 2001: Floating Rhythms, with Terje Isungset 2001: Kråkeviks songbook, with Herborg Kråkevik 2003: A Dance with the Shadows (The Wild Places), with Tirill Mohn 2006: Tuki, with Miki N'Doye 2006: Into Paradise, with Sissel Kyrkjebø 2007: Urban Jive, with Olav Torget 2008: After a day of rain, with Benedicte Torget 2008: Magma, with Jan Gunnar Hoff 2008: Det er den draumen, with Sondre Bratland 2008: Rite, with Unni Løvlid 2008: Sviv, with Steinar Ofsdal 2008: PdPMH A/R (Naïve), with Laurence Revel 2008: Lysmannen, with Geirr Lystrup 2009: Æ Ror Aleina, with Tonje Unstad 2009: Sibi, within Becaye Aw 2009: Shan Qi, Energy of the mountains (DVD by Ozella music), with Guo Yue, Giovanni Amighetti, Wu Fei, Guido Ponzini 2009: Hildring, with Hildegunn Øiseth 2009: Piper on the Roof, with Elisabeth Vatn 2010: Arctic Cinema (iBoks), within No Border Orchestra 2010: Påskemorgen Slukker Sorgen (Gateway), with Lise Petersen 2012: Jeg Har Vel Ingen Kjærere (Plush Badger Music), with Anne Gravir Klykken 2012: Heilt Nye Vei (Ozella Music), with Elin Furubotn 2012: A Distant Youth (panai), with Wu Fei

References

1. "Siwan". ECMrecords.com.
2. "Batagraf". Magnetic.no.
3. "Maria Joao & Mario Laginha". MariaJoao.org.
4. "Anne Wylie". AnneWylie.com.
5. "Helge Andreas Norbakken Review". DrummersZone.com.
6. "Jazzlinja". NTNU.no. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
7. "Jazz& – Heartbeat feat. Helge Andreas Norbakken" (in German). Spielboden.at. Retrieved 2012-11-24.

External links

• Official website