Robert Normann

Robert Uno Normann (27 June 1916 – 20 May 1998) was a Norwegian guitarist and considered a jazz guitar pioneer.

Career Normann was an autodidact performer on the accordion and tenor saxophone, and eventually on the guitar as his main instrument. He was one of the swing era's most sought guitar soloists in Norway, and was also a pioneer of electric guitar. His first electric guitar was enabled in 1939 by constructing a pickup of copper wire, magnets and pitch, stolen from public phones, Normann told in an interview with Jon Larsen. In 1988 the jazz recordings of Normann were for the first time collected and reissued on the label Hot Club Records (produced by Jon Larsen, who also wrote biographical articles about Normann). After his death, the old recordings were taken over by his family (Normann Records).

Style of play Normanns play can mislead people into thinking that Django Reinhardt was the inspiration, but by his own account he never listened recordings with the Belgian guitarist, but to American musicians Teddy Wilson and Leon Chu Berry, and various accordionists. From 1955, he was less active in the jazz context, for example because of significant alcohol problems. and in the period from 1968 to 1982 he was responsible for several musical productions for Riksteatret. He has composed music to multiple folk texts, among others by Alf Prøysen, and has also composed music for film and theater and small pieces of music inspired by jazz and traditional Norwegian folk music.

The organization Friends of Robert Normann Robert Normanns Venner (Friends of Robert Normann) was founded in 1999 with the purpose of collecting and disseminating information about Normann's artistic work. The association was previously located in Sarpsborg, Østfold, but is currently under Normann Records, operated by the Normann family with Wenche Normann as manager.

Plays on Riksteatret

1968 Venner og elskere 1975 Fugleelskerne 1976 Frieriet 1976 Gjete kongens harer 1976 En sommernattsdrøm 1976 Tobakkens uheldige virkninger 1976 Bjørnen 1976 Jeppe på Bjerget 1976 Østenfor sol og vestenfor måne 1977 Victoria 1977 Troll kan temmes 1977 Revisoren 1978 Kameliadamen 1978 Tor med hammer'n 1978 Geografi og kjærlighet 1979 Det hendte i Riga 1979 Landet hvor alt er annerledes 1982 Balladen om Robin Hood

Discography

Solo recordings Recordings with different early jazz groups are released on the label Jazz Hot & Swing – Jazz in Norway 1920–1940 2001: Sigarett stomp – Jazz in Norway 1940–1950 1988: Robert Normann vol. 1 – String Swing (1938–1941) 1988: Robert Normann vol. 2 – Sigarett Stomp

Later radio recordings of small groups and his own solos 1990: Robert Normann vol. 3 – Tricky Fingers (1959–89) 1988: Robert Normann vol. 4 – Perpetuum mobile and other rare recordings 1959–1974 1996: The Best of Robert Normann (1941–1989)

Collaborations With Inger Jacobsen with Robert Normanns Kvartet 1956: På En Bar I Rio Single (Columbia Records)

With Alf Prøysen – Alf Prøysen Single (Philips)

With Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa 1963: Plays Norwegian Dances 1 Single (RCA Victor)