Bjørn Kjellemyr was a Norwegian double bassist and composer who was born on September 8, 1950, in Oslo, Norway. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Kjellemyr started playing the double bass at the age of 14 and quickly became interested in jazz and classical music. Kjellemyr studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo and later at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with jazz bassist Gary Peacock. After completing his studies, Kjellemyr returned to Norway and began his career as a professional musician. Kjellemyr quickly established himself as one of Norway's leading jazz bassists, performing with some of the country's top jazz musicians, including Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, and Jon Christensen. He also worked with international jazz musicians such as Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, and John Abercrombie. In addition to his work in jazz, Kjellemyr was also an accomplished classical musician. He performed with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, among others. He also composed music for both jazz and classical ensembles. One of Kjellemyr's most notable performances was his appearance at the 1984 Molde International Jazz Festival, where he performed with the Jan Garbarek Group. The performance was recorded and released as the album "It's OK to Listen to the Gray Voice" and is considered a classic of Norwegian jazz. Kjellemyr received several awards and honors throughout his career, including the Buddy Award in 1991 and the Gammleng Award in 2001. He was also awarded the Norwegian Jazz Forum's honorary prize in 2015. Kjellemyr continued to perform and record throughout his career, releasing several albums as a bandleader and collaborating with other musicians. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to seamlessly blend jazz and classical music. Sadly, Kjellemyr passed away on October 11, 2020, at the age of 70. His contributions to Norwegian jazz and classical music will be remembered for years to come.

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