[TR24][OF] Harald Bergersen - Baritone - 2022 (Jazz)

Harald Bergersen - baritone saxophone
Bård Helgerud - guitar
Fredrik Nilsen - double bass
Torstein Ellingsen - drums & percussion

Harald Bergersen is one of today’s jazz musicians with the lengthiest high-level activity. Born in 1937, a professional musician since he was 18 years old, he started with clarinet as his main instrument, but also played bass clarinet, flute and alto/baritone/soprano saxophones. A ‘gentle’ musician inspired by Stan Getz, imagine his great surprise when one December night in 1959, playing at a restaurant in Oslo – none other than Getz himself arrived for a listen! Harald played for fun with Kjell Karlsen’s well-known big band (1959–60), but as a professional musician played with Oslo Blåsekvintett/Blåsesolister (1963–73), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra (1966–68) and the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra (1970–77). As a clarinet player he became familiar with European contemporary music, and was a member of Ny Musikk (New Music)’s Ensemble for eleven years (1977–88). From 1977 he taught at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
His connection with jazz of course continued; he played for 26 years in the national Radio Big Band (1964–90), first as tenor player and from 1966 as lead alto. For 14 years (1969–83) he led his famous bop quintet together with the trumpet player Bernt Steen. He also led his own quartet, and contributed to many recordings and concerts with other bands. In 1985 he recorded the first album under his own name, the LP Joy Spring, together with trumpet player Atle Hammer. From 1991 he enlarged his style becoming a member of the traditional Big Chief Jazz Band. In 2001 he was presented in Oslo Jazz Circle’s CD series Portrait of a Norwegian jazz artist with recordings of his own quartets (1973–78) – on tenor sax.
In 2013 he bought a new baritone sax. Harald likes to work with different colours – enjoying change. When a group of younger musicians invited him to a jam session during the corona virus ‘silence’, he took along his baritone. The ensuing route to the recording studio was very short. Together with drummer Torstein Ellingsen (b. 1966), bass player Fredrik Nilsen (b. 1968) and guitarist Bård Helgerud (b. 1982), each of them with vast musical experience, the CD «Baritone» was created – with beautiful tunes creating a truly pleasant ambience and atmosphere.