Per Husby
Per Husby is a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, teacher, civil engineer, and orchestra leader.
Career
Husby was raised in Oslo together with other jazz enthusiasts like jazz journalist Knut Borge.He studied piano at the Music Conservatory of Oslo, and became a siv.ing. in acoustics at the Norwegian Institute of Technology, followed up with studies in jazz at Berklee in Boston. In Trondheim, he worked with the local big band Bodega Band where he wrote much original music for recordings. Later, Husby performed in groups led by Asmund Bjørken and Bjørn Alterhaug. He was a musical director at the local theatre Trøndelag Teater. Husby led his own septet,, quintet, and released records with his 13-piece Per Husby Dedication Orchestra.
From 1980 in Oslo, he was leader of the Federation of Norwegian Jazz musicians, and co-edited the Norwegian Jazz Magazine Jazznytt. Over 20 years, he made regular engagements as a pianist/orchestra leader on Norwegian TV Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, including 11 years as a musical director for the "memory lane" TV series Da Capo.
Husby has produced and played with Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen, and plays in the Quartet of tenor saxophonist Bodil Niska as well as with singer Laila Dalseth. He has through the years worked as an accompanist for visiting jazz soloists such as Chet Baker, Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, James Moody and Karin Krog.
Honors
- 1985: Molderosen at the Moldejazz
- 1985: Work of the year 1985, elected by the composer's organisation NOPA in for Poesi
- 1985: Spellemannprisen in the class Jazz, for the album Dedications
- 1989: Buddyprisen by The Norwegian jazz federation's honorary award
Discography
- Per Husby Septet, Peacemaker. With Knut Riisnæs/Bjørn Johansen/Harald Bergersen saxophone Bernt Anker Steen trumpet, Carl Morten Iversen bass and Svein-Erik Gaardvik drums
- The Improviser. With Chet Baker, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Espen Rud, Ole Jacob Hansen and Terje Venaas
- The Per Husby Dedication Orchestra, Dedications won Spellemannprisen 1985,
- The Per Husby Dedication Orchestra, Your eyes.
- Notes for nature – including jazz adaptions of his music for the prize-winning TV documentary NRK-programme 2048
- If you could see me now. Recorded in New York City with Frank Wess, Grady Tate, Jim Pugh, Jay Leonhart, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chris Potter, Howard Johnson a.o.
- Anne Lande and Husby, Sakte sanger with music by Alf Prøysen, Inger Hagerup, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others
- Anne Lande and Husby, Helt Nær.