Morten Gunnar Larsen

Morten Gunnar Larsen (born 1 October 1955) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, well known for several ragtime and stride piano recordings and collaborations.

Career Larsen studied classical piano at Norges Musikkhøgskole (1978). In 1975 he had his debut record, Classic Rags and Stomps, for which he won Spellemannprisen in 1976.

Larsen's collaboration with Bagneris continued with the performance Jelly Roll!! – The Music and the Man, dedicated Jelly Roll Morton, and performed at Oslo Jazzfestival 1990. It also had eleven months at Off-Broadway (1994–95) and was released as a CD (GHB, 1996). This work gave Larsen the OBIE Award 1995. He had earlier received the Buddy Award of Foreningen norske jazzmusikeres "Årets jazzmusiker" (1992) in his home country. He participated in several recordings in the Magnolia Jazzband (1974–93) and Ytre Suløens Jassensemble up until 1992 and has participated in Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo (2011–present).

Discography Classic Rags and Stomps (Arne Bendiksen A/S, 1975) LP; all tracks later reissued on Charleston Rag CD Don't You Leave Me Here (Sonet, 1978) LP; all tracks later reissued on Charleston Rag CD Plays Robert Clemente (Stomp Off Records, 1981) LP; all tracks reissued on the Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra CD Echoes from the Snowball Club (PianoMania Music, 1995) Echo of Spring (Hot Club, 1983) Maple Leaf Rag (Herman Records, 1989) Hot Jazz, Pop Jazz and Ragtime (PianoMania Music Publishing, 1991) Charleston Rag (Herman Records, 1995) CD compilation of all the tracks from Larsen's first two LPs Fingerbreaker (Decca, 1999) Rhapsody (Curling Legs, 2000) with clarinettist Georg Michael Reiss Ragtime and Rhapsody (Herman Records, 2005) 1997 concert in Levanger In a Rag Bag (Meantime Records, 2012) with singer Karin Krog Ernesto Nazareth: Creole Connections (Lawo Classics, 2014) Sorgenfri (Herman Records, 2015)