Olav Dale (30 October 1958 – 10 October 2014) was a Norwegian composer, orchestra leader and jazz saxophonist. In addition to saxophone he played other woodwinds.[1] He received little formal education in music, but he completed studies at the Voss Folk High School and the Toneheim Folk High School (1976–78).[2][3]

Olav Dale
Background information
Born(1958-10-30)30 October 1958
Voss, Norway
Died10 October 2014(2014-10-10) (aged 55)
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Formerly ofBergen Big Band
Websiteolavdale.com

Biography

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After the debut at Vossajazz (1974) with the Voss Storband, Dale recorded with Bergen-based orchestras like the Bergen Blues Band (1975–84), Bergen Big Band with eg Knut Kristiansen's Monk Moods (1980), and with various multi-national orchestras like 'Son Mu' and 'The Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra'. He also played the winds on several releases with Dag Arnesen, such as 'Ny Bris' and 'Son Mu', and in the Oslo based bands like: 'E'Olen', Oslo 13 and 'Lille Frøen Saxofonkvartett'.[4]

He started his own Quartet in 1995 and Olav Dale Quartet on the 1997 recording was Dag Arnesen (piano), Sébastien Dubé (bass) and Frank Jakobsen (drums). For the 2007 edition of the O. D. Quartet the line up is: Erik H. Halvorsen (keyboards), Stein Inge Brækhus (drums), Torbjørn Hillersøy (electric bass), and with this band Dale headed for India in the beginning of 2005 where he toured extensively the years to come.[5][6] He also contributed on Jan Alexander Grieg & Arvid Genius' Reunion blues (1985)[7] and Didrik Ingvaldsen's (History & movement).[8]

During the 1990s he also played with great international jazz names such as Philip Catherine, Paquito D'Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Gustavo Bergalli, Phil Woods, Andy Shepherd, Bennie Wallace, Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Martial Solal, Diana Krall, Mathias Rüegg and Gianluigi Trovesi.[2]

When Dale died October 10, 2014, after a period of illness, his family constituted a memorial fund. The first recipient of Olav Dale's Memorial Award was his Bergen Big Band.[9][10]

Band projects

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Awards

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Discography

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As leader

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  • 1997: Little waltz Olav Dale Quartet (NorCD)[11]
  • 2007: Dabrhahi (NorCD)[11][12]

As sideman

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With Dag Arnesen's Ny Bris

  • 1982: Ny Bris (Odin)

With Bergen Big Band

  • 2005: Seagull (Grappa)
  • 2007: Meditations on Coltrane with The Core (Grappa)
  • 2008: Som den gyldne sol frembryter (Grappa)
  • 2010: Crime Scene (ECM)
  • 2014: Another Sky (Grappa)

With Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra

  • 1982: Friendship (Odin)

References

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  1. ^ "Vakkert og inderlig" (in Norwegian). Nett Avisen side2.no. 2007-04-03.
  2. ^ a b "Olav Dale Biography from jazzbasen" (in Norwegian). Norsk Jazzarkiv MIC.no. 2009-01-31.
  3. ^ "Olav Dale er gått bort" (in Norwegian). Bergensavisen. 2014-10-11.
  4. ^ "Olav Dale Biography - Store Norske Leksikon". 18 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Til India for å holde koken - Rikskonsertene.no". Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2012-06-26. (in Norwegian)
  6. ^ "Konsert med Olav Dale og lokale gjester - LinTicket.no". Archived from the original on 2013-02-24. (in Norwegian)
  7. ^ "Arvid Genius - NRK Jazz". 26 November 2010. (in Norwegian)
  8. ^ "Review of History & movement - Dagbladet.no". 18 January 2000. (in Norwegian)
  9. ^ "Til minne om Olav Dale" (in Norwegian). Vestnorsk.JazzINorge.no. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  10. ^ "Olav Dales minnepris til Bergen Big Band" (in Norwegian). JazzINorge.no. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  11. ^ a b "Olav Dale Quintet Little waltz". NorCD.no.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Erling Wicklund (30 March 2007). "Olav Dale - Dabrhahi Review" (in Norwegian). Kultur og Underholdning NRK.no.
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Awards
Preceded by
First award 1988
Recipient of the Vossajazzprisen
1988
Succeeded by
Preceded by Recipient of the Sildajazzprisen
2008
Succeeded by