Bergen Big Band

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.

Biography
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 took over as administrative leaders of the band.

In 2005 they released the studio album Seagull, with Karin Krog conducted by John Surman. In 2007 they released the album Meditations on Coltrane, from a concert at Nattjazz featuring The Core, the same year. Crime Scene (2010) recorded at Nattjazz 2910, featuring Terje Rypdal, Palle Mikkelborg, Ståle Storløkken and Paolo Vinaccia, at the ECM label.

November 2, 2004 the band was joined by Karin Krog and John Surman, for a memorial concert for the bands late leader Olav Dale at USF, Verftet in Bergen.

Current members

 * Woodwinds:
 * Elisabeth Lid Trøen
 * Jan Kåre Hystad
 * Ole Jakob Hystad
 * Zoltan Vincze
 * Michael Barnes


 * Trumpets:
 * Martin Winter
 * Svein Henrik Giske
 * Are Ovesen
 * Reid Gilje


 * Trombones:
 * Øyvind Hage
 * Sindre Dalhaug
 * Pål Roseth
 * Kjell Erik Husom


 * Rhythm section:
 * Ole Thomsen guitar
 * Thomas T. Dahl guitar
 * Dag Arnesen piano
 * Magne Thormodsæter bass
 * Frank Jakobsen drums

Honors

 * 2015: First Olav Dale's Memorial Award

Albums

 * 2003: Adventures In European New Jazz And Improvised Music (Europe Jazz Oddysey), with Mathias Rüegg "Art & Fun" on compilation with various artists
 * 2005: Seagull (Grappa Music), feat. Karin Krog condcted by John Surman recorded at the Nattjazz Festival, Bergen 2004
 * 2007: Meditations on Coltrane (Grappa Music), with The Core
 * 2008: Som den gyldne sol frembryter (Grappa Music)
 * 2010: Crime Scene (ECM Records), with Terje Rypdal recorded at the Nattjazz Festival, Bergen 2009
 * 2014: Another Sky (Grappa Music), with John Surman
 * 2016: Kuria Suite (Grappa Music), with Knut Kristiansen
 * 2017: Norwegian Song IV (Odin Records|Odin), with Dag Arnesen