Bjarne Nerem

Bjarne Nerem
Birth name	Bjarne Arnulf Nerem
Born	31 July 1923 Oslo, Norway
Origin	Oslo, Norway
Died	1 April 1991 (aged 67) Oslo, Norway
Occupation(s)	Saxophonist & composer
Instruments	Saxophone & clarinet
Labels	Gemini Records

Bjarne Arnulf Nerem (31 July 1923 in Oslo, Norway – 1 April 1991 in Oslo), was a Norwegian jazz musician (tenor saxophone, alto saxophone and clarinet), known from several recordings, and was among the absolute foremost soloists in Norwegian jazz. He was a very talented musician in the tradition of Lester Young, Stan Getz and jazz in the 1950s. Nerem achieved international recognition for his performances.^[1][2]

Career

Nerem started his career playing clarinet during the World War II, and participated on an album with «Syv Muntre» (1943) and participated, among others within Rowland Greenberg's ensembles. He eventually went over to the tenor and alto saxophone, and started in 1947 a more than 20 years career in Stockholm, Sweden, where he became one of the first bebop performers and quickly became one of Sweden's most renowned, first in the orchestras of Thore Jederby and Santa Skoog (1947–49).^[3] After three years within Karl Westby's orchestra at Rainbow (Oslo), Nerem went into several Swedish bands including with Simon Brehm (1952 to 1954) and Harry Arnold's radio band (1956). In recent years he has also played within Carl-Henrik Norin's band (1968–71) and on releases by Ove Lind, Siljabloo Nilsson, Lasse Sjösten, Arne Domnérus, Monica Zetterlund, Thore Ehrling and Nils Lindberg. The period culminated with the album How long has this been goin 'on (1971).^[2]

Nerem returned to Norway in 1973 and led his own Bjarne Nerem Kvartett releasing the album Everything happens to me (1976), awarded Spellemannprisen 1976. They also released This is always (1984), and contributed in Nerem solo album More than you know (1987). Furthermore, figured Nerem on releases with Karin Krog (1974), «Sandvika Storband» (1980) and Kristian Bergheim (The rainbow sessions, 1990). Internationally, he collaborated with Kenny Davern and Flip Phillips (1987), Al Grey (Al meets Bjarne, 1988).^[2]

Honors

• «Gyllene skivan» (1971) for How long has this been going on
• Spellemannprisen 1976 in the class Jazz, for Everything happens to me
• Buddyprisen (1980)
• «Oslo bys kunstnerpris» (1983)
• Gammleng-prisen in the class jazz (1987)

Discography (in selection)

Solo albums

• 1971: How long has this been going on (Odeon Records)
• 1987: More than you know (Gemini Records)

Within his own Quartet

• 1976: Everything happens to me (Gemini Records)
• 1984: This is always (Gemini Records)

Portrait albums

• 2001: Portrait of a Norwegian Jazz Artist (Oslo Jazz Circles), recordings from 1962–80
• 2006: Embraceable you (Oslo Jazz Circles), recordings from 1984–88
• 2008: Bjarne Nerem – The big band sessions (1956-65) (Oslo Jazz Circles)
• 2008: Bjarne Nerem – The small band sessions (1955-76) (Oslo Jazz Circles)

Collaborative works

• 1971: Happy Jazz (Gazell), within Ove Lind Quintet, feat. Monica Zetterlund
• 1974: George Gershwin + Karin Krog (Polydor)
• 1988: Mood Indigo (Gemini Records), trio with Kenny Davern & Flip Phillips
• 1988: Al meets Bjarne (Gemini Records), with Al Grey

As sideman

With Benny Bailey and Åke Persson

• Quincy - Here We Come (Metronome, 1959) - also released as The Music of Quincy Jones (Argo)

With Stan Getz

• Imported from Europe (Verve, 1958)

With Roy Haynes

• Jazz Abroad (Emarcy, 1955)

With Quincy Jones

• Quincy's Home Again (Metronome, 1958) - also released as Harry Arnold + Big Band + Quincy Jones = Jazz! (EmArcy)

References

1. "Nerem, Bjarne" (in Norwegian). Norsk musikkinformasjon MIC.no.
2. Dalane, Anders. "Bjarne Nerem Biography". Norsk Biografisk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
3. "Jazz history 1950-1960". Norwegian Jazz Archives.

External links

• Bjarne Nerem Biography on Store Norske Leksikon