Official Nikolaj Hess Myspace.
Nikolaj Hess is the band leader of Nikolaj Hess Trio, Global Motion and plays with the Hessismore band, Caroline Henderson and various other groups.
Short Bio.
Nikolaj Hess is a Danish Pianist born in august 1967.He is part of a big musical family. Both his brother, Emil Hess og Mikkel Hess are well-known jazz musicians and producers.
Nikolaj graudated from Det Rytmiske Musikkonservatorium, (Rhythmic Conservatory) in 1989 at the age of 22.He was the first to get highest grade 13 for concert performance in piano, his main subject.
He was awarded the 1987 Gold Prize in “Berlingske Tidendes” competition for non-classical music, Copenhagen and in 1991 the RAI competition, the category ”Best European jazz pianist under age of 25”, Rome .
Nikolaj Hess later studied piano and composition in the US with Richie Beirach, Danilo Perez and Gary Dial, Sophia Rosoff and Zitta Zohar. He also studied in West Africa at University of Legon, Ghana, with master drummer Odartey, Dele Sosimi and others and played with legendary saxofonist/singer Fela Kuti in Lagos Nigeria.
Nikolaj Hess is besides being a busy musician, composer, bandleader and side man also associate professor at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, and have been teaching part time since 1996. He has also been teaching at New School University in New York, The Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, Conservatoire National Superieur de Music de Paris, Funda College, South Africa.
Today Nikolaj Hess is one of the most requested Danish pianists for studio recordings, live sessions, as a composer and bandleader. Nikolaj Hess has been side man for studio recordings, live concerts for several bands and musicians in nearly every rhythmical genre from jazz, pop, gospel to classical and electronica.
As producer, arranger,composer, bandleader and side man Nikolaj Hess has been recording for such renowned labels as Sony, Stunt Records/ Sundance Music, Music Mecca, Rainbow/Ex Libris, Callibrated, Music For Dreams, Storyville Records, Edel/Mega Records, Olufsen Records, Calibre, Ellipsis Art and Sunnyside Records.
The Music
Nikolaj Hess spent most of his musical life either in New York or Copenhagen if he is not touring.
Nikolaj Hess has composed and arranged for solo piano, small groups, large string ensemble, big band, choirs and saxophone quartet. As musican, composer, producer and arranger, Hess has appeared on more that 100 albums since his debut with Hess Quartet feat. Hans Ulrik, Nikolaj Hess, Hugo Rasmussen, Aage Tanggaard & Lisbeth Diers [Olufsen Records 1990] .
As Band leader:
Both as composer and band leader he is very productive. As band leader he currently composes, tours and records with following bands:
Global Motion +
Line-up:
Nikolaj Hess (piano)
Marc Mommaas (sax)
John Hebert (bass)
Tony Moreno (Dr)
Ben Monder (gui)
Jeff Ballard (perc)
Throughout Global Motion +, Hess and his unit create a musical language of their own, one which combines the worlds of East and West, Eruope and Amerca into a dusty multicultural stew of bouncing rhythms and complex melodies.
Released the album ”Global Motion” on Sundance /Stunt Recrods in late 2009.
Find info on the release here
http://www.sundance.dk/artrel.php?art=263&go=3&view=321
Spacelab
Line-up:
Nikolaj Hess (hammond)
Anders Christensen (Bass)
Mikkel Hess (drums)
Released the album ”The Champ” on Sundance /Stunt Recrods in 2009
Here Nikolaj is back with his brother Mikkel Hess (hessismore) and Anders Christensen (Jakob Bro Trio, Thomasz Stanko Quintet a.m.o). This trio has been doing there late night sessions at teh Jazzhouse in Copenhagen during Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Its party, hammond, losts of impro and damn good vibe.
The album relase ”The Champ” is featuring the same compostions as heard on the Global Motion album. But here cut down to simple expressive trio. You feelt he african soul.
Find info on the release here
http://www.sundance.dk/artrel.php?art=262
Nikolaj Hess Trio
Line-up:
Nikolaj Hess (piano)
Jesper Lundgaard (bass)
Marilyn Mazur (perc)
Sissel Vera Pettersen &Nikolaj Hess
Their collaboration started in 2003, and since then their duo have evoked huge attention and enthusiasm in concerts at festivals and clubs in Scandinavia and USA. The expression is organic and light, and beneath the surface lays an enormous musical surplus that allows the two musicians to go in for the intensely understated. The duos repertoire varies from original compositions to covers and free-impros. Together they erase the differences between the traditional soloist and accompanist, finding a wider landscape for musical creativity, always focusing on spontaneity, playfulness and close interaction. The use of vocal- and piano loops broadens the acoustic sound and creates an ambient and transparent soundscape which is constantly changing.
Links:http://www.musicfordreams.net/artists/pettersen-hess.php
http://www.myspace.com/sisselverapettersennikolajhess
Some of the bands:
Nikolaj Hess has played and contributed as an artists to more than 50 band constellations from jazz to pop, classical and gospel. Here a few mentioned, but not any forgotten:
Hess, Cheek, Hutchinson, Skou
Hessismore
Caroline Henderson
Ulla Henningsen
Etta Cameron
Hess/Huntley
Hess, Lund, Waidtloew, McBride
Kenneth Bager
Collaborations
Musical collaborations and musical partners Nikolaj Hess is playing with or played with:
Jay Andersen, Christian McBride, Kenny Wollesen, Lee Konitz, Benny Golson, Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti, Hal Willner, Caroline Henderson, Etta Cameron, James Genus, Ambrose Akinmusire, Rez Abassi, Ben Monder, Satoshi Takeishi, Ben Street, Francois Moutin, Marylin Mazur, Greg Hutchinson, Essiet Okon Essiet, Donny McCaslin, Jochen Rueckert, Jesper Lundgaard, Mads Vinding, Alex Riel, Lars Danielsson, Jacob Fisher, Johannes Weidenmuller, Tom Rainey, Cameron Brown, Sissel Vera Petersen, Hans Ulrik, Chris Minh Doky. Ulla Henningsen, Julee Cruise, Jamey Haddad, Ed Neumeister, Danny Gottlieb, James Genus, David Liebman, Hal Crook, Harwie Swartz, Jean Luc Ponty, Marcello Pelletiri, Andrea Marcelli, Michael Blair, Kysia Bostic, Ed Howard, Youron Israels, Dennis Charles, Doug Raney, Cæcilie Norby, Debbie Cameron, Lars Hug, Bob Rockwell, Jukka Perko, Severy Pyssalo, Ed Thigpen, Kenneth Bager, Peter Poulsen, Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Annisette Koppel, Ane Trolle, among many many others.
Sponsored.
Nikolaj Hess is sponsored by Bach Pianos Scandinavia
