Hallgeir Pedersen

Hallgeir Pedersen (born 24 May 1973) is a Norwegian jazz guitarist, well known for his Thorgeir Stubø, Wes Montgomery and Coltrane inspired bop guitar performances and recordings like West Coast Blues with his own trio.

Career Pedersen was raised in Øksfjord, a small village in Loppa Municipality in Finnmark county, northern Norway. He started early playing heavy-metal guitar, inspired by guitarists like Ritchie Blackmore, Ronni Le Tekrø, and Yngwie Malmsteen. The latter led him to study the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and classical guitar studies on the music program at Holstbakken videregående skole in Alta (1989–92). During this period he became interested in bebop, and he was introduced to the work of the renowned Norwegian jazz guitarist Thorgeir Stubø (1943–1986). His first jazz band was the Alta Jazz Trio, with a festival debut at the Varanger Festival in 1995. Later he joined bassist Dag Erik Pedersen in Romanian pianist Constantin "Nuti" Tănase's trio. Pedersen had already developed a distinct guitar style performing mostly in northern Norway.

Pedersen has been a soloist with numerous ensembles, among them the Norsk Universal Orkester in 2003 (led by Lars Erik Gudim), at the Jubileums-varitéet, at Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 2004, and with the Sami artist Ingor Ánte Áilo Gaup (Áillos) at the Riddu Riđđu Festival (2003). He has collaborated on several of the projects with trumpeter Tore Johansen, including as a member of the Lars Gullin Tribute (2004–05). His guitar is heard on the third album from trumpeter Johansen, Windows (2003) with Roger Johansen on drums and Ole Morten Vågan on bass. Pedersen was selected to represent Norway at the International Bebop Guitar-meeting in 2006, along with a number of internationally formatted guitar counterparts, like Louis Stewart (Ireland), Martin Taylor (England) og Randy Johnston (USA).

Pedersen's latest project, Flight, is a quartet that includes Ivar Antonsen (piano), Bjørn Alterhaug (bass) and Roger Johansen (drums).

In 2010 and 2011 Hallgeir Pedersen was the musical leader for The Groove Valley Jazzcamp in Beiarn, Norway and in 2012 he had the same responsibility for the UrBand Camp, who were arranged for the first time in Arkhangelsk, Russia.

Honors Randi Hultin Memorial Award 2002 Stubøprisen 2007

Discography

Solo albums Within Hallgeir Pedersen Trio 2002: West Coast Blues (Ponca Jazz), with Konrad Kaspersen and Trond Sverre Hansen 2004: Wistful (Hot Club Records), with Bjørn Alterhaug and Trond Sverre Hansen 2006: Bluero (Ponca Jazz), with Bjørn Alterhaug and Trond Sverre Hansen

Collaborations Within Flight (Quartet – Ivar Antonsen, Bjørn Alterhaug and Tore Johansen) 2010:Flight 17 Dec. (Ponca Jazz)

With Tore Johansen (Quartet – Ole Morten Vågan and Roger Johansen) 2003: Windows (Gemini Music)

With Terje Nilsen 2012: Gledeståra (Inner Ear)