Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Denmark

Birth

:

May 27, 1946 in Osted, Denmark

Death

:

April 19, 2005 in Ishoej, Copenhagen, Denmark

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was a Danish jazz bassist and composer who was born on May 27, 1946, in Osted, Denmark. He was the son of a church organist and began playing the piano at the age of six. However, he soon switched to the double bass and began playing professionally at the age of 14. Pedersen's early influences included jazz bassists such as Ray Brown and Oscar Pettiford, as well as classical composers such as Bach and Beethoven. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile musician, and in 1962 he joined the Danish Radio Jazz Group, where he played with some of the leading jazz musicians in Denmark. In 1964, Pedersen joined the Oscar Peterson Trio, one of the most famous jazz trios of all time. He replaced Ray Brown, who had left the group to pursue a solo career. Pedersen's tenure with the Peterson Trio lasted for over a decade, during which time he recorded numerous albums and performed all over the world. Pedersen's playing was characterized by his virtuosic technique, his melodic improvisations, and his ability to swing hard. He was also known for his ability to play in a variety of styles, from bebop to ballads to Latin jazz. In addition to his work with the Peterson Trio, Pedersen also recorded and performed with many other jazz musicians, including Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Pass. He also recorded several albums as a leader, including "The Eternal Traveller" and "The Viking." Pedersen was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1991, he was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize, which is considered one of the most prestigious awards in Nordic music. He was also awarded the Ben Webster Prize in 1996 and the Jazzpar Prize in 1999. Pedersen continued to perform and record up until his death in 2005. He died of heart failure at the age of 58 while on tour in Sweden. His legacy as one of the greatest jazz bassists of all time lives on through his recordings and the influence he had on countless other musicians.

More....