Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen
Biography
HILDE LOUISE ASBJØRNSEN is a Norwegian jazz singer, songwriter, actress and author, often compared to legends such as Billie Holiday and Marilyn Monroe.
Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen has released 11 albums since 2004, and continues to be an important part of the Norwegian jazz scene. Her latest album «Red Lips, Knuckles and Bones» was released on Ozella Music (DE) to great reviews, and was presented at Jazzahead in 2019. She has also nurtured an extensive career in cabaret and musicals on the side. Her latest show and book, «Stardust», is a tribute to female superstars from centuries past. Stardust got top reviews, is still touring Norway, and will play at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023.
Along with her eminent musicians, she delivers concerts that really sparkle, with songs from her large catalog, ranging from playful, modern pop jazz to tight, swinging songs inspired by the golden era of jazz. The sound is crisp and dreamy. The National Jazz stage in Norway describes Hilde Louise as «The great performer known for her finely balanced humor and darkness, wit and energy».
Quotes
"It is as if a part of Billie Holiday has taken residence in her. She is the seducer who pushes you a little longer than reason dictates." Aftenposten
"Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is a rare and wonderful combination, equal parts musician, poet and storyteller. Hailed by Norwegian press as "three parts Monroe and one part Holiday". Hilde Louise's poetry is hypnotic. Her instrumental arrangements are like dark, expencive chocolate - rich, sweet-tasting, and very satisfying, while leaving you wanting more!» Skoot Larsson, skootsjazz.com
"My Recording of the Week is Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen’s highly addictive “Red Lips, Knuckles and Bones”... a moving album of her own material, genre hopping from jazz to americana with style and humour..." Presto Music
Photo: Anna-Julia Granberg - BLUNDERBUSS
Photo: Anna-Julia Granberg - BLUNDERBUSS
Hilde Louise & Anders Aarum
On «Movies & Stories like this», to be released on September 30th 2022, jazz singer and songwriter Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen and pianist Anders Aarum present nine original songs about intangible love.
The inspiration from Piaf, Brel and Weill is expressed through the atmosphere of the songs, which range from bolero, tango and French waltz to jazz ballads. In a concert, the duo would also include amusing, stripped down versions from Hilde Louise's repertoir.
Anders Aarum is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music in Agder, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Gothenburg Academy of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. He has released 5 albums with his own compositions, the two last ones on Ozella Music, and worked as a pianist, producer and arranger to a number of prominent jazz names like Knut Riisnæs, Ola Kvernberg, Sonny Simmons, Nora Brockstedt, Sigurd Køhn, Julie Dahle Aagård, Randi Tytingvåg. In addition to his own trio, he regularly plays with Knut Riisnæs Quartet and Oslo Jazz Ensemble, and has been Asbjørnsen's pianist, arranger and producer since 2005.
Discography
2022 - Movies & Stories Like This
«Movies & Stories like this» jazz singer and songwriter Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen and pianist Anders Aarum present nine original songs about intangible love.
Hilde Louise's lyrics spin around both the minor and the major love affairs. From everyday relationships, the ones that don’t reach the silver screen, but nevertheless come with great drama, to the big love stories, where everything falls to pieces.
2019 - Red Lips, Knuckles And Bones
“My Recording of the Week is Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen’s highly addictive “Red Lips, Knuckles and Bones”... a moving album of her own material, genre hopping from jazz to americana with style and humour, despite personal losses that inspired many of the songs. With her unique phrasing, Asbjørnsen’s style balances between a crooning, pop, country approach and more traditional jazz. Her band make these stylistic jumps appear seamless, with the touchstone appearing to be swinging sixties jazz(..)” Matt Groom, Prestomusic.
2015 - Don't Stay for Breakfast
Hilde Louise Orchestra presents 10 brand new, swinging tunes written by the artist and recorded over 4 days in Oceansound Recordings in March 2015.
With Julie London, Louis Prima and Duke Ellington on her playlist, Hilde Louise has written songs about black coffee, shoes and strange visitors for breakfast. The front cover is made by the internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Hariton Pushwagner.
2013 - Round About Christmas
Hilde Louise's Christmas jazz hit album, Round About Christmas presents cool and swinging Christmas jazz, including the Ane Brun duet "Christmas Is A Lullaby" and featuring Noora Noor on "What Are you Doing New Years Eve".
"A new norwegian Christmas Classic" - Jazznytt
"The best Norwegian Christmas album of the year .. I have been waiting for this for many years without being aware of it." Carl Petter Opsahl - VG
2012 - Månesjuk
Produced by Anders Aarum, Hilde Louise's 7th album, her 1st in Norwegian is a masterpiece of jazzy burlesque pop music with a touch of cabaret. The title refers to and to the power of a blinding, full moon. The album has been acclaimed by the Norwegian press, Aftenposten: 5/6, Nettavisen: 5/6, Hamar Arbeiderblad: 6/6, Bergens Tidende: 5/6, Dagningen: 6/6, Romerrikes Blad: 5/6, Norske Musikk: 5/6.
2011 - Divin' At The Oceansound
Recorded with a live audience in Ocean Sound Recordings (NO), this album presents a collection of Hilde Louises songs, rearranged for a classic swing trio: Anders Aarum (upright piano), Jens Fossum (double bass), Svein Erik Martinsen (guitar). The line up and the new arrangements are inspired by Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson vocal-sessions.
2010 - Never Ever Going Back
Hilde Louise Orchestra have created a delightful mixture of vintage rock, jazzy cabaret and pop noir. This combination perfectly fits Hilde Louises poetic and theatrical lyrics. Featuring Anders Aarum (keys), Jens Fossum (bass), Jan Martin Smørdal (guitar) and Klaus Blomvik (drums and percussion), Mattias Stahl (vibraphone and marimba), Ketil Einarsen (flute), Atle Nymo (saxophones and clarinette), Hermund Nygård (brushes), Julie Dahle Aagård and Renate Nygård (add. vocals) and Katrine Schiøtt (chello).
2008 - Sound Your Horn
"Sound Your Horn" was among the critics favorites for 2008. Kurt Bakkemoen, VG, placed the album on his Top 5 List together with SeaL, Nick Cave, Erykah Badu and Duffy. Svein Andersen, Aftenposten, ranked it 7 out of 10 among "Best Norwegian Records 2008". Hilde Louise's first release on her own label is a poetic cocktail of jazz, cabaret and pop-music, recorded on tape in a boathouse on the west coast of Norway, featuring an energetic Hilde Louise Orchestra.
2006 - No Vil Eg Vake Med Deg
A tribute to the late Swedish jazz singer Monica Zetterlund. Together with producer Georg Wadenius, Hilde Louise chose her favourites from Zetterlund's repertoir. Translated in to new Norwegian by author Edvard Hoem and orchestrated by some of Scandinavians finest jazz musicians: Georg Wadenius, Jan Allan, Jan Lundgren, Arild Andersen and Pete Abbot.
2005 - Birdie Blues
Compared to "Eleven Nights", with its touch of cabaret and nostalgia, "Birdie Blues" has a more modern sound, inspired by soul and pop music. The songs once again prove Hilde Louise as a great storyteller, and connoisseurs can recognize lyrical references to the American standards.
2004 - Eleven Nights And Two Early Mornings
Hilde Louise started writing songs in the year 2000, and what came out was jazz, cabaret and caribbean rhythms. This album is a poetic and heartfelt collection of her first compositions.