Bergen Big Band

Bergen Big Band
Bergen Big Band at a memorial concert for Olav Dale, November 2, 2014; photo by Knut Andersen
Background information
Origin	Bergen, Norway
Genres	Jazz, big band
Years active	1991–present
Labels	ECM, Grappa
Members	Olav Dale Jan Kåre Hystad Ole Jacob Hystad Zoltan Vincze Michael Barnes Martin Winter Svein Henrik Giske Are Ovesen Reid Gilje Øyvind Hage Sindre Dalhaug Pål Roseth Kjell Erik Husom Ole Thomsen Dag Arnesen Magne Thormodsæter Frank Jakobsen

Bergen Big Band (BBB) is a Norwegian big band established 1991 as a continuation of Knut Kristiansen's Bergen Band. BBB is known from cooperations with musicians like Phil Woods, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Diana Krall, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Andy Sheppard, Martial Solal, Mathias Rüegg, Gianluigi Trovesi, Mathias Eick, Ole Kock Hansen, Etta Cameron, Karin Krog, John Surman, Dino Saluzzi, Gustavo Bergalli, Berit Opheim, Jan Magne Førde, The Core, Ab und Zu, Vidar Johansen, Paolo Vinaccia, Ståle Storløkken, Palle Mikkelborg and Terje Rypdal among others.

Olav Dale was musical leader of the band the entire period 1991-2014. In 1995, BBB, Nattjazz and Vossajazz made an agreement to make an annual project with the band over a three-year period. The collaboration has continued thereafter. In 1999, the West Norwegian Jazz Center toock over as administrative leaders of the band.