Biography
Petter Wettre has since the early nineties made his mark as one of the most important musicians on
the Norwegian jazz scene, and is one of the most virtuos saxophonists Norway has today. Wettre is
known for playing contemporary jazz.
He studied music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, wherehe graduated with
honors in 1992. He had his breakthrough in 1995 when he was NRK's representative in the EBU
Orchestra in Prague. The orchestra that assemble under the auspices of the European Broadcasting
Union is known to promote the best talent in European jazz.
In 94 and 95 Wettre participated in Master Class with renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman. (Miles
Davis, 1971-1973). In 1996 Wettre debuted as band leader with the album "Pig Virus". This album
was nominated for a Norwegian the Grammy that same year. Alongside his work with his quartet,
he also formed the critically acclaimed "The Trio". They released four critically acclaimed albums.
Their debut album, "Meet the locals" were nominated for a yet another Norwegian Grammy in
1998. The Trio also earned themselves 3 and a half out of 4 possible stars in the encyclopedia; "The
Penguins Guide to Jazz" that same year.
In 2000 they released the album "In Color" with the aforementioned Dave Liebman as a guest. The
album came in seventh in JazzReviews announcement of this year's top ten albums in the UK.
Tours and festivalgigs followed. In 2001 Wettre was awarded the "Clear Answer" jazz prize at
Kongsberg Jazz Festival. 2001 also awarded Wettre his first Norwegian Grammys for best jazz
album (2000), "The Only Way to Travel", (bp rec.). The same year, Wettre recorded and produced
his 5th. album; " The Mystery Unfolds". Here he shows his true versatility as a composer and
saxophonist. Wettre is also being voted one of the ten most important musicians on the European
jazz scene in the British jazz magazine Jazz Review. In 2003 Wettre establish his own label,
"Household Records". His album; "Hallmark Moments" is nominated for a Grammy in 2004.
Wettre promotes and releases his book of transcriptions; "Live at the Lighthouse - Omnibook" on
Perla Music. (2005). This book contains all the solos of Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman from
the album with the same name. This transcription book was also promoted on a tour of the most
prestigious universities and music institutions in the U.S., including; Berklee College of Music and
Mannhattan School of Music. Wettre debuted with his solo concerto for saxophone, "Paramount," at
the Molde Jazz Festival the same year. Albumrelease on Household Records later that year.
In 2006 Wettre was one of the headliners at Kongsberg Jazz Festival with his "Tribute to Coltrane"
on the occasion of his 80 th. birthday. Wettre also toured with New Light Orchestra, (with among
others, Gene Perla and Dave Liebman).
In 2007 Wettre produced his CD no. 12 and 13 - "Fountain of Youth" and "Appetite for Structure"
"Fountain of Youth"earns him his 2nd. Norwegian grammy for best jazz album. Petter Wettre
Quartet performs in New York and Addis Abbeba in addition to a Norwegian tour. He opens
Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 2008 with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra playing his own music
orchestrated by Django Bates. Later that same year Wettre tours throughout Europe with Manu
Katche (Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jan Garbarek). Recordings for German television with Thomas Stanko
and Manu Katche follows.
In February 2009 NRK Wettre is once again representing NRK as a EBU musician. This time
around it is his own music from the previous year from the Kongsberg concert that is aired in it
entirety in 11 European countries. Release of "Fountain of Youth - Live" (Cd / dvd) follows. This is
Wettres 14th. release under his own leadership.
Wettre is touring Germany with Manu Katche and being Artist in Residence at the
National Jazz Scene -Victoria in October. (Oslo).
In 2010 Wettre finalizes a piece for jazz comp and 6 horns and vocals, commissioned by Toneheim
Folkehogskole. 2 tours for "Rikskonsertene" - (The Cultural Rucksack), for middle schools with the
production - The Only Way to Travel with Petter Wettre Trio. Concerts with Manu Katche in
Israel, Poland, Italy and Turkey. Guest appearing on albums with Oystein Sevaag - "The Red Album"
and Oyvind Nypan - Elements.
In January 2011 Wettre is nominated for his 6th. Grammy for the album The Only Way to Travel
2, with acclaimed drummer Audun Kleive. Tours of Scandinavia with Carl Winther/Anders
Mogensen Trio. Oslo Jazzfestival with The Trio Duoperformances with drummer Audun Kleive
throughout Norway. Apperance at Faching Jazzclub, (Stockholm), w. Audun Kleive
In 2012 Petter Wettre collaborates with British pianist Jason Rebello. They perform at festivals in Lithuania and South Korea. Appearances in South Africa with Manu Katche. Arranges and perform his own music for a specifically selected big band for the occasion of NOPA 75th. year celebration.
The concert is aired in 11 European countries as part of NRK's EBU contribution. Records for Swedish Radio with his own band; Petter Wettre Next Generation. Appearing at London Jazzfestival with Ensemble Denada.Concerts in Italy with Manu Katche and Ensemble Denada. In 2013 Petter Wettre releases his 18 th. Recording as a leader; Reinventing music. Appearances at Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Nattjazz and Molde Int. Jazzfestival with own projects. Tours for Rikskonsertene. Concerts with Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen..
Facts:
- Born: Aug.11th.1967 in Sandefjord, Norway
- Instrument: Tenor and soprano sax, bass clarinet
- Graduated from Berklee College of Music, Boston, U.S.A. in 1992.
- Studies with George Garzone, Joe Viola and Dave Liebman.
- Current ensembles;Petter Wettre Next Generation
17 recordings as a leader:
- Petter Wettre and Jason Rebello - Reinventing Music - 13
- Petter Wettre Next Generation - The Social Media Tapes - 12
- Petter Wettre and Audun Kleive - The Only Way to Travel 2 - 10
- Petter Wettre - Fountain of Youth - Live! - 09
- Petter Wettre - Appetite for Structure - 08
- Petter Wettre - Fountain of Youth - 07
- Petter Wettre - State of the Art - 05
- Petter Wettre - Paramount - 05
- Petter Wettre - Hallmark Moments - 04
- Petter Wettre/Dave Liebman - Tour de Force - 04
- Petter Wettre Quintet - Household Name - 03
- Petter Wettre Trio - Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse - 03
- Petter Wettre Trio - The Mystery Unfolds - 01
- Wettre/Johansen - The Only Way to Travel - 00
- The Trio - In Color - 00
- The Trio - Meet the Locals - 98
- Petter Wettre Quartet - Pig Virus - 96
Also featured as a sideman / guest soloist on 40 albums in all styles, ranging from jazz, gospel, pop and world music.
Awards:
- Grammy for best Norwegian jazz album 2007; "Fountain of Youth" - Petter Wettre
- Grammy for best Norwegian jazz album 2000; "The Only Way to Travel" - Wettre/Johansen duo
- Grammy-nominated for best Norwegian jazz album 2010; "The Only Way to Travel 2" - Wettre/Kleive duo
- Grammy-nominated for best Norwegian jazz album 2004: Petter Wettre - "Hallmark Moments"
- Grammy-nominated for best Norwegian jazz album 1999: The Trio - "Meet the Locals"
- Grammy-nominated for best Norwegian jazz album 1996: Petter Wettre Quartet - "Pig Virus"
- "Klart Svar" jazz price, Kongsberg 2000.
Also:
- Performances around the world as part of the Manu Katche - Playground 2008 ongoing.
- The Trio - "In Color", voted as nr.7 in Jazzreview's "Top Ten" releases in Great Britain 2000.
- Petter Wettre voted one of Europe's top ten leading musicians in Jazzreview 2002
- Several tours/festivals in Norway and abroad both with own groups and as a sideman.
- Numerous TV shows, radio, jingles, commercials for norwegian radio & television.
- Norwegian representative of EBU, (European Broadcasting Union) 95,97,09 & 12
- Performances with: Dave Liebman, Gene Perla, Manu Katche, Tomasz Stanko, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen, Rick Margitza, Adam Nussbaum, Joey DeFrancesco
