Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
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| Background information | |
| Born | 27 May 1946 Osted, Zealand, Denmark |
| Died | 19 April 2005 (aged 58) Ishøj, Zealand, Denmark |
| Genres | Jazz, avant-garde jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Double-bass |
| Years active | 1960s–2005 |
| Associated acts | Booker Ervin Albert Ayler, Chet Baker, Count Basie, Kenny Drew, Roy Eldridge, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Milt Jackson, Slide Hampton, Roland Kirk, Tete Montoliu, Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson, Jean-Luc Ponty, Sonny Rollins, George Shearing, Archie Shepp, Ben Webster |
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (born May 27, 1946 – died April 19, 2005) was a famous Danish jazz double bassist. People often called him by his shorter name, NHØP. He was known for his amazing skill and quick playing on the double bass.
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Becoming a Jazz Star
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was born in Osted, a town near Roskilde in Denmark. His dad was a church organist. When Niels was a child, he played the piano. But at 13, he started learning to play the upright bass.
By the age of 14, he began his professional jazz career in Denmark. He played with his first band, Jazzkvintet 60. When he was just 15, he was good enough to play with top musicians in nightclubs. He often performed at Copenhagen's Jazzhus Montmartre.
Playing with Jazz Legends
Jazzhus Montmartre was a popular place for American jazz stars to visit. As part of the house band, young NHØP played with many famous musicians. These included saxophonists like Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz. He also played with pianists such as Bill Evans. In 1965, he even toured Europe with Bill Evans.
During the 1960s, NHØP played with many other important American jazz artists. Some of these were Ben Webster, Bud Powell, and Ella Fitzgerald. When he was 17, he was asked to join the Count Basie orchestra. But he had to say no because he was too young to legally work in the United States.
Collaborations and Awards
NHØP is very well known for working with Oscar Peterson. They played together from 1972 to 1987. Oscar Peterson's previous bassist, Ray Brown, thought NHØP was the only bassist who could keep up with Peterson's fast playing. In 1981, DownBeat magazine named him the Best Bass Player of the Year.
He also made over 50 albums with pianist Kenny Drew. NHØP played with other great musicians like Stéphane Grappelli and Joe Pass. He also recorded many albums as the band leader. Some of his most famous songs are "My Little Anna" and "Jaywalkin'". He also created jazz versions of traditional Danish folk songs. In 1991, he won the Nordic Council Music Prize.
NHØP was very good at playing Danish songs and folk tunes. He often played in groups of three musicians. Sometimes he played with trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and keyboard player Kenneth Knudsen. Other times, he led his own groups, often with guitarists like Philip Catherine. In 1999, he toured with pianist Mulgrew Miller. Later, drummer Alvin Queen joined them to form a trio. This trio played together until NHØP passed away.
His Passing
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen died in 2005 at the age of 58. He passed away from heart failure in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was survived by his wife, Solveig, and his three children.
Awards and Honors
- 1974: Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group (with Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass)
- 1981: Best Bass Player of the Year by Downbeat Critics' Poll
- 1991: Nordic Council Music Prize
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen para niños
- List of jazz bassists
