Snorre Bjerck

Snorre Bjerck
Birth name	Snorre Bjartmann Bjerck
Born	25 February 1962 Florø, Sogn og Fjordane
Origin	Norway
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Percussion Electronica Vocals

Snorre Bjartmann Bjerck (born 25 February 1962 in Florø, Norway) is a Norwegian, jazz musician (percussion and vocals). He has played in bands like "First Set", Jon Balke's Batagraf, and the sami band Transjoik.,^[1] and is otherwise known from recordings and performances with the likes of Morten Harket, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Nils Petter Molvær, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Sigvart Dagsland, Frode Alnæs, Eivind Aarset, Annbjørg Lien, Arve Henriksen, Nils-Olav Johansen, and Tim Whelan (Trans Global Underground, England)

Career

Bjerck is educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1984–86).^[2] For people interested in World music this exceptional percussionist is something on stage, in the band Transjoik, Batagraf with Jon Balke, Helge Norbakken, Ingar Zach or in one of his own musical projects. His distinctive style, with treatment of percussion instruments from around the world, distinctive vocals and electronics merging into an elaborated mix.^[3] He has also contributed to the "Østnorsk Jazzsenter"'s band "Norske Store Orkester".

He debuted as solo record artist with the album My Place (2006), and you can sense his extensive touring world wide with impulses from both traditional folk music and different environments. He uses unique samples collected during his tours in Europa, Asia and Afrika. These are used as mood elements in the production of a tremendous groove, vocal elements and an intense nerve World creates a totally new format. Bjerck brings along guest musicians the joiker Ingor Ánte Áilo Gaup, and the Swiss bassist Mich Gerber. The production is his own assisted by Transjoik colleague Frode Fjellheim.

Honors

• Vossajazzprisen 2007.^[4]

Discography (in selection)

Solo works

• 2006: My place (Vuelie)

Collaborative works

Within Transjoik

• 1994: "JazzJoik Ensemble: Saajve Dans" (Idut)
• 1997: "Mahkalahke" (Warner Bros.)
• 2000: "Meavraa" (Warner Bros.)
• 2003: "Remix Project EP" (Vuelie)
• 2004: Uja Nami (Vuelie)
• 2005: Bewafá (Vuelie)

With others

• 1996: Letters (Turn Left), with Håvard Lund
• 1997: Ruošša Eanan (Atrium), with Ulla Pirttijärvi
• 1997: Ruošša Eanan (Turn Left), with Ulla Pirttijärvi
• 2003: Vind (Heilo), with Hans Fredrik Jacobsen
• 2008: Áibbaseapmi, with Ulla Pirttijärvi

References

1. "Transjoik vant minoritets-Grand Prix" (in Norwegian). VG.no.
2. "Jazzlinja NTNU.no" (in Norwegian). NTNU.no. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
3. "Snorre Bjerck Biography" (in Norwegian). Vuelie.no. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
4. "Vossa Jazz-prisen" (in Norwegian). Vossajazz.no.