Solveig Slettahjell

Solveig Slettahjell
Slettahjell at the Oslo Jazzfestival 2018
Background information
Born	(1971-04-02) 2 April 1971 (age 53) Bærum, Akershus
Origin	Norway
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instrument	Vocals
Labels	Curling Legs, ACT, Universal
Website	www.solveigslettahjell.no

Solveig Slettahjell (born 2 April 1971)[1] is a Norwegian jazz singer, known for her soulful, seductive voice.[2]

Career

Slettahjell was born in Bærum, Norway, and made her recording debut with the album Slow Motion Orchestra (2003), which contains jazz standards like "All the Way" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". It was released after festival appearance at Nattjazz 2002. For her second album, Silver (2004), her band took the name "Slow Motion Quintet". In 2005, they released Pixiedust.[2]

After working with a commission for Vossajazz Festiva (2009), she released the music on the acclaimed album Tarpan Seasons (2010).[3] In 2012 she performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival with Gregory Porter.[4]

Slettahjell collaborated with Tord Gustavsen and Sjur Miljeteig releasing the albums Natt I Betlehem (2008) and Arven (2013) including with Nils Økland. In 2011 she released the album Antologie with Morten Qvenild and in 2015 the album Trail of Souls with Knut Reiersrud and the jazz ensemble In the Country. The album was praised for Slettahjell’s "immensely soulful vocals".[5]

Honors

• 2004: Spellemannprisen in the class Jazz
• 2005: Radka Toneff Memorial Award
• 2005: Kongsberg Jazz Award
• 2011: Gammleng-prisen in the class Jazz

Discography

As leader

Year	Personnel	Album	Label	Peak positions
				NOR[6]
2001	Solveig Slettahjell	Slow Motion Orchestra	Curling Legs	–
2004	Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Quintet	Silver	Curling Legs[7]	23
2005	Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Quintet	Pixiedust	Curling Legs[7]	25
2006	Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Quintet	Good Rain	Curling Legs (, ACT)	28
2007	Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Quintet	Domestic Songs	Curling Legs (, ACT)	30
2008	Solveig Slettahjell with Tord Gustavsen and Sjur Miljeteig	Natt I Betlehem	Kirkelig Kulturverksted	5
2009	Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Orchestra	Tarpan Seasons	Universal	5
2011	Solveig Slettahjell (with Morten Qvenild)	Antologie	Universal	6
2013	Solveig Slettahjell (with Tord Gustavsen, Sjur Miljeteig and Nils Økland)	Arven	Universal	5
2015	Solveig Slettahjell and Knut Reiersrud with In the Country	Trail of Souls	ACT	-

With others

• 1998: Squid – Super (Forward)
• 1999: Kvitretten – Everything Turns (Curling Legs)
• 2002: Kvitretten – Kloden er en snurrebass som snurrer oss (Curling Legs)
• 2002: Sigvart Dagsland – Underlig Frihet (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), as guest vocalist on one track
• 2005: Jon Balke Batagraf – Statements (ECM)
• 2006: Friko – The Journey to Mandoola (C+C)
• 2014: Bugge Wesseltoft, Knut Reiersrud and In The Country – Norwegian Woods – Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic II (ACT)

References

1. "Solveig Slettahjell: Singer, Composer". Directory MIC.no.
2. Christian Lysvåg (5 October 2007). "Solveig Slettahjell: 'Domestic Songs'". Listento.no.
3. Christian Lysvåg (12 September 2009). "Solveig Slettahjell: Visitations". Listento.no.
4. Terje Mosnes (17 August 2012). "Store stemmer, store smil: Solveig Slettahjell og Gregory Porter gjemte det beste til sist". Dagbladet.no.
5. "NORWAY: Trail of Souls - Knut Reiersrud, Solveig Slettahjell & in the Country". www.200worldalbums.com. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
6. "Solveig Slettahjell discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
7. The album was subsequently licensed to the German ACT Company record label in 2006; cf. Silver at Discogs and Pixiedust at Discogs

External links

• Official website

Awards
Preceded by Atomic	Recipient of the Jazz Spellemannprisen 2004	Succeeded by Hans Mathisen
Preceded by Live Maria Roggen	Recipient of the Radka Toneff Memorial Award 2005	Succeeded by Arve Henriksen
Preceded by Ingebrigt Håker Flaten	Recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award 2005	Succeeded by Håvard Wiik
Preceded by No Jazz award	Recipient of the Jazz Gammleng-prisen 2011	Succeeded by Eldbjørg Raknes