Jakob Norgren & Big Band Splash


Biography Jakob Norgren & Big Band Splash



Jakob Norgren
I was born in 1967 and grew up in Piteå and Örebro (Sweden). I took piano lessons when I was 8 years old and then clarinet lessons at age 10 to 15. Then, for a few years basketball occupied most of my time, but at age 19 I decided to buy a tenor sax and learn how to play jazz. In 1989–91 I studied at Fridhems folkhögskola, Svalöv with Cennet Jönsson as an inspiring teacher.

In the 90’s I played jazz and funk with different bands, but I also studied at the Stockholm University and took a Master of Education for the Upper Secondary School (Psychology & Social studies). I also developed as a saxophone player by taking lessons from Hector Bingert and Alberto Pinton.

In 1999-2006 I took a Master of Music at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. The first four years my main subject was jazz saxophone with Alberto Pinton, Joakim Milder, Karl-Martin Almqvist and Johan Hörlen. 2003-2006 I studied composition with Örjan Fahlström as my most important teacher. At the Royal College of Music I also have had the pleasure of meeting guest professors/lecturers as Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, Quincy Jones, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Tim Hagans, Karl-Heinz Stockhausen, Helge Albin, Michael Gibbs and B.B. King.

Alongside my music career I have been teaching psychology, social studies and music. In recent years I have taken courses and educated myself in neuroscience and physiology. I also worked as a research assistant, and since 2017 I’m employed as a PhD student at Karolinska Institutet. My doctoral project is about the relation between diet and cognitive function in normal aging and dementia.

On baritone sax I’m a member of Knock-Out Greg & The Injectors (blues), Crawfish Cook (New Orleans funk/r&b) and some other bands. I’ve been working with a.o. Sven Zetterberg, Mike Sanchez (U.K.), Blue House Jazz Orchestra, Ann-Sofi Söderqvist Jazz Orchestra, Peter Asplund Big Band, Koop, Arne Forsén Unit, Rolf Wikström, The Beat From Palookaville, Trickbag, Marino & The King Five, Baskery, Khalid and also U.S. bluesmen John Németh and Kid Ramos.

I recieved a grant from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden) 2008 & 2010 and also from STIM 2015 and Stockholms stad (kulturstipendium) 2016.

Jakob Norgren Big Band Splash
was started in 2004 and on our first two albums Wide Meadow Soul (2005) and East Of The Arctic Circle (2007) we mixed contemporary jazz with soul, blues and even some electronica. In 2010 we shortened the name to just Big Band Splash and decided to let the band develope into a soul/rhythm & blues/soul-jazz orchestra, which was manifested on the albums Another Apple (2010) and Volume 5 (2017). Contemporary jazz is now instead performed under the name Jakob Norgren Jazz Orchestra.

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