Norway

Piano/arranger -- Per Husby
Vocals -- Kjersti Stubø
Trumpet / vocals -- Ole Jørn Myklebust
Bass -- Terje Venaas
Drums -- Roger Johansen

The American trumpeter and vocalist, Chet Baker (1929-1988), was one of the most significant voices on the international jazz scene for more than 35 years.  His warm trumpet sound, matched with a soulful vocal style, saw him play all over the world, till his tragic death in Amsterdam in 1988, at age 58.

Chet Baker was constantly discovered by new audiences wherever he went, taking part in new projects, and meeting new constellations of musicians with whom he performed. His visits to Norway often included playing with Norwegian pianist Per Husby or bass player Terje Venaas, who both did tours and recordings with him.

For this tribute project, Husby - in collaboration with the other musicians - have collected some of their reminiscences of Chet and some of the songs he liked to play, and invited three of the most prominent players of the younger generation of Norwegian Jazz musicians to join them in the performances. 

Welcome to a presentation of both the melancholic ballads and the hard swinging be-bop through which Chet Baker lived and breathed. 

Per Husby (b.1949) -- piano
Composer, arranger, pianist, and band leader Per Husby has worked with artists like Chet Baker, Pepper Adams, James Moody and Kenny Wheeler. He has composed music for a broad variety of jazz settings, and is a much used band leader and arranger in projects both on Norwegian TV and live. He has released several albums under his own name and received several awards for his work both as a jazz musician and as a composer/arranger.

 
Kjersti Stubø (b.1970) -- vocal
Kjersti Stubø is one of Norway’s finest jazz vocalists. Her hip timing, soulful phrasing and silvery sensitive voice can be heard on several recordings both in jazz, folk music and more improvised settings. She was brought to national attention in Norway after a sensational concert at the Kongsberg Jazz festival in 1999 with jazz legend Herbie Hancock.
 

Ole Jørn Myklebust (b.1977) – trumpet / vocal
Musician, composer, arranger, producer Ole Jørn Myklebust is an experienced musical chameleon, having contributed to numerous albums and written and arranged music for both artists in a variety of genres as well as for TV, theatre, and documentaries. He has also been touring with Norway's international vocal star Mari Boine all over Europe. More Info: www.myspace.com/olejorn http://www.myspace.com/olejorn

Roger Johansen (b.1972) -- drums
Johansen have done festival gigs and tours with jazz giants such as Slide Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Hal Galper, Barbara Morrison, George Garzone, John Taylor, Karin Krog and John Surman to name a few, and is one of the most renowned Norwegian jazz drummers of the younger generation. Johansen released his first album Evening Songs under his own name in 2005. More info: www.rogerjohansen.com http://www.rogerjohansen.com/

Terje Venaas (1947) -- double-bass

Terje is a living legend in European jazz and has for almost 40 years been a first call bass-player for visiting jazz giants like Joe Henderson, Jim Hall, Kenny Drew, Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones, Art Farmer, to name a few. He was Chet Baker’s favourite bass player in Scandinavia, and he actually recorded with Chet in Paris as late as two months before his tragic death.