HARALD LASSEN — About /projects

ABOUT

Norwegian saxophonist, pianist, band leader and free spirit Harald Lassen is a child of the highly creative and constantly blooming music scene in Oslo. His growing acclaim and reputation as a unique creative force within Norwegian jazz and other creative music is not only justified but plain for all to hear. «Harald´s music is jazz, but jazz of a different shape and colour. Such music can only come from a free and open mind» wrote international music press after his third and latest album «Human Samling» was released in 2020. The album was nominated for best jazz album of the year in the Norwegian Grammy Awards. Together with his lively and soulful band Lassen centers his music around inviting tunes from his catalogue and brings the listener on a liberating adventure. Grounded and soaring at the same time. A good place to be in!

Harald Lassen was in an early aged picked up by jazz legends like Jon Christensen and Arild Andersen and has gradually staked out his own course through a huge amounts of bands, collabs and artistic directions, from the underground techno scene in Oslo to church music to commercial pop music. His international career started with the trendsetting indie jazz band Pixel(2010-2017) and toured in the same period with the award winning band Mopti and the ”must see” costume orchestra Dr. Kay and His Interstellar Tone Scientists. Beside his own band Harald is currently playing with the popular Norwegian pop band No. 4 and in a new duo with singer Susanna Wallumrød.

Back in 2016 Harald Lassen released his first solo album ”Rainbow Session” in collaboration with Belgian LABtrio which is just one of many national and international artist he has worked with along his musical path; Jon Christensen, Bendik Baksaas, Ellen Andrea Wang, Corrie Dick, Rob Luft, Cassandra Jenkins, Anja Lauvdal, Sondre Lerche, Mohammed Matona and so on.

«Lassen makes you feel you´re part of something spontanious and real – here and now you are very lucky” -JazziNorge
"One of the most original and enthralling pieces of music in a very, very long time" - Morgenbladet
"Remarkably beautiful and pleasant sounding music for our times" - Dagens Næringsliv

Skills: saxophone, flute, keys, vocals, MidiMe, songwriting

From: Songdalen close to Kristiansand City, Norway

Ongoing projects/bands:

Harald Lassen Balans
Susanna og Harald Lassen gjør Gunvor Hofmo
En hyllest til Joni Mitchell m. Anja Lauvdal

Previous projects: No. 4(2012-2023), Pixel(2010- 2017), Bugge Wesseltoft New Conception of Jazz, Mopti, Dr. Kay And His Interstellar Tone Scientists, Duplex, Ronja, Sjøen, Harald Lassen & LABtrio, Matona Afdhal Group

Collaborations: Jon Christensen, Corrie Dick, Anja Lauvdal, Sondre Lerche, Frida Ånnevik, Per Oddvar Johansen, Bram De Looze, Marthe Eberson, Cassandra Jenkins, Hilma Nikolaisen, Konradsen, Mats Eilertsen, Tord Gustavsen, Susanna Wallumrød, Sanskriti Shrestha, Ellen Andrea Wang, Kristoffer Eikrem, Eyolf Dale, Marianna Sangita, Rob Luft, LABtrio, Christian Winther, Morten Qvenild, Emilie Christensen, Bendik Baksaas, Marbles, Jo Asgeir Lie, Christian Meaas Svendsen, Kjersti Horn/Erik Hedin and many more!

Labels: Jazzland Recordings

Founder of The Jazz Department of Dhow Countries Music Academy, Zanzibar

Stuff:

-Norwegian Grammy 2020 nomination “Harald Lassen - Human Samling” -Norwegian Grammy 2017 nomination: ”Pop Group of the Year” (No. 4) -Norwegian Grammy 2016 nomination: “Pop Group of the Year” (No. 4) -Nomination Bremen Jazz Price 2016 (Mopti & Bendik Baksaas) -Norwegian Broadcasts “jazz higlight of 2015” (Pixel) -Nomination Gaffa Price 2015 ”Album of the year” (Mopti & Bendik Baksaas) -Nomination Gaffa Price 2015 ”Band of the year” (Mopti & Bendik Baksaas) -UK Music Video Awards 2013 ”Best International Dance Video (“Call Me” by Pixel) -Young Nordic Jazz Comets 2013 (Pixel) -Young jazz musician of the year 2012 (Mopti)

BOOKING:

Fanny Prevet (France++)

Stian Andersen (Norway)