Asmund Bjørken

Not to be confused with Aasmund Bjørkan.

Asmund Bjørken
Born(1933-08-19)19 August 1933
Verdal Municipality, Norway
Died29 January 2018(2018-01-29) (aged 84)
Levanger Municipality, Norway
GenresJazz, traditional music
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Saxophone, bukkehorn
LabelsSonor Records

Asmund Bjørken (19 August 1933 – 29 January 2018)[1] was a Norwegian musician who played the accordion and saxophone in the genres of jazz and folk. He was self-taught.[2]

Career

Bjørken was part of Harry Waagens Orchestra, a central band on the Trondheim Jazz scene in 1949–53. He later had his own orchestras in Steinkjer (1956–57) and Trondheim (1957–). In the lineups was among others Karl Holst (clarinet and saxophone, 1957–), Kjell Johansen (drums, 1957–) and Bjørn Alterhaug (bass, 1966–). I. 1990 the orchestra consisted of Oddmund Finnseth, Ove Bjørken (guitar), Per Olaf Green and Rolf Skogstad. Foreign collaborators included: Bengt Hallberg, Benny Bailey, Mads Vinding.

In the 1980s he played in Egil Kapstad/Rowland Greenberg Quartet, and since 1990 he has led own Asmund Bjørken Swing Sextet, which inter alia Ove Bjørken, Bjørn Alterhaug and Bjørn Krokfoss are included, as well as Erling Aksdal (piano).

He released the autobiography Spellemann, på gammel rutine og støgg mistanke in 2003, and a portrait of him vas put up at the Norwegian television channel NRK in 2003, called Asmund i Himmelriket, by Andreas Lunnan.[3]

Honors

  • 1972: Buddyprisen
  • 1998: Nord-Trøndelag fylkes kulturpris
  • 2002: Vågåfatet
  • 2003: Verdal kommunes kulturpris
  • 2004: Trondheim Jazz Festival honorary Award

Discography

Solo albums

  • 1976: Accordeon to my heart
  • 1990: Gammeldansens Perler, within 'Asmund Bjørkens Orchestra (Sonor Records)
  • 1992: Pot's on, within Asmund Bjørkens Sextet
  • 1997: Jazz Accordion – My way, (Sonor Records)

Collaborative works

  • 1979: Frösöminner, (ARC)
  • 1981: Old news, within Bjørn Krokfoss Oktet
  • 1982: All the things you are, with Arvid Genius

References

  1. ^ Stokdahl, Kristian (29 January 2018). "Folkekjære Asmund har gått bort". innherred.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Bjørken, Asmund Biography" (in Norwegian). MIC.no. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Asmund Bjørken rundt midnatt" (in Norwegian). NRK. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Buddyprisen
1972 		Succeeded by