Helge Norbakken

Helge Andreas Norbakken (born 1965) is a Norwegian drummer known for his collaborations with Mari Boine, Jon Balke (MNO/Bathagraf/Siwan), Kari Bremnes, Maria Joao, Karl Seglem, Becaye Aw, Miki N'Doye, Jovan Pavlovic, and Anne Wylie. He is married to Dagrun Hjelleset Norbakken.

Career Norbakken is a graduate of the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1985–88), and is one of the most renowned Scandinavian percussionists. He started going on international venues within Mari Boine Band, and recorded Goaskjinvellja, Lehakastin, Ballvvoslatina, and live Eallin (1997) with her, then continued with Maria Joao, Jon Balke, Kari Bremnes, Ayub Ogada and an impressive list of Norwegian and international musicians.

After working with arvmusic on Mari Boine's tours, he recorded and played live with Ayub Ogada (in trio with Giovanni Amighetti and with a full big band including sound engineer Geir Ostensjo, Gjermund Silset, Giovanni Amighetti and Roger Ludvigsen), Vladimir Denissenkov, Tiziana Ghiglioni in "La voce del Mondo" and Guo Yue with Shan Qi. Norbakken developed a very original percussions style, based on sound research, hand-made instruments and original timbres merge. Everything go into strict multirythmical patterns those remember at the same moment Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Doudou N'Dyae Rose works... In studio he is a master in creating particular structures using (many) tracks and percussions over recordings.

Discography (in selection) With Frode Alnæs 2012: Envy The Man (Big Box Music)

With Jon Balke 2004: Diverted Travels (ECM), within Magnetic North Orchestra 2005: Statements (ECM), within Batagraf

2011: Say And Play (ECM), within Batagraf

With Mari Boine 1993: Goaskinviellja – Ørnebror – Eagle brother (Lean) 1994: Leahkastin (Lean, Verve World) 1996: Radiant Warmth (Antilles) 1997: Eallin – Live (Antilles) 1998: Balvoslatnja – Room of Worship (Antilles) 2001: Winter in Moscow (Jaro Medien GmbH) feat. Inna Zhelannaya & Sergey Starostin

With Kari Bremnes 1998: Svarta Bjørn (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2001: Desemberbarn (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2005: Over en by (Reise) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2007: Live (Reise) (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2009: Ly (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) 2012: Og Så Kom Resten Av Livet (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)

With Jon Hassell 2009: Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street (ECM)

With Maria Joao & Mario Laginha 2000: Chorrinho Feliz (Verve) 2001: Mumadji (EmArcy) 2002: Undercovers (EmArcy, Universal) 2004: Tralha (Universal Portugal) 2009: Chocolate (Decca International) 2011: Follow the Songlines (Naive) with David Linx & Diederik Wissels

With Karl Seglem 2004: Femstein (NorCD) 2007: Urbs (NorCD)

With Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and Elin Rosseland 2014: Ekko (MNJ)

With Ann Wylie 2001: One And Two (Biber) 2003: Silver Apples of the Moon (Biber) 2008: Deep Waters (Biber)

With others 1987: Vol. IV (Studentersamfundets Plateselskap), within Bodega Band 1993: Shaken But Not Stirred (Curling Legs), with Palisander Kvartetten 1994: Langt nord I livet (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), with Erik Bye 1996: Hvit Pil, with Hege Rimestad 1997: PIP, with Steinar Ofsdal 1997: Salimie, with Ayub Ogada, Giovanni Amighetti, Gjermund Silset, Roger Ludvigsen (Intuition) 1997: Kuling I Skyggen (Bare Bra Musikk), with "Reiseradioen & Solskinnsgutta" (Gisle Børge Styve) 1998: La voce del mondo, with Tiziana Ghiglioni, Giovanni Amighetti, Roger Ludvigsen, Gjermund Silset (Arvmusic/IRD) 2000: Anastasia, with Vladimir Denissenkov, Gjermund Silset (Arvmusic/IRD) 2001: Floating Rhythms, with Terje Isungset 2001: Kråkeviks songbook, with Herborg Kråkevik 2003: A Dance with the Shadows (The Wild Places), with Tirill Mohn 2006: Tuki, with Miki N'Doye 2006: Into Paradise, with Sissel Kyrkjebø 2007: Urban Jive, with Olav Torget 2008: After a day of rain, with Benedicte Torget 2008: Magma, with Jan Gunnar Hoff 2008: Det er den draumen, with Sondre Bratland 2008: Rite, with Unni Løvlid 2008: Sviv, with Steinar Ofsdal 2008: PdPMH A/R (Naïve), with Laurence Revel 2008: Lysmannen, with Geirr Lystrup 2009: Æ Ror Aleina, with Tonje Unstad 2009: Sibi, within Becaye Aw 2009: Shan Qi, Energy of the mountains (DVD by Ozella music), with Guo Yue, Giovanni Amighetti, Wu Fei, Guido Ponzini 2009: Hildring, with Hildegunn Øiseth 2009: Piper on the Roof, with Elisabeth Vatn 2010: Arctic Cinema (iBoks), within No Border Orchestra 2010: Påskemorgen Slukker Sorgen (Gateway), with Lise Petersen 2012: Jeg Har Vel Ingen Kjærere (Plush Badger), with Anne Gravir Klykken 2012: Heilt Nye Vei (Ozella), with Elin Furubotn 2012: A Distant Youth (panai), with Wu Fei