Quick Facts
Biography
Atle Jonas Hammer (born 11 March 1932 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian engineer and jazz musician (trumpet, Flugelhorn), central on the jazz scene in Oslo and known from several international cooperation.
Biografi
Hammer was raised at Røa in Oslo, is the son of a civil engineer Eivind Hammer and grandchild of Hans Gudbrand Hammer. He was trained as a civil engineer in Wyoming, USA and worked at Norwegian State Railways and Jernbaneverket.
He established himself as a leading trumpeter in Norway in the 1950s, and led his own sextet releasing the album Seven Eleven (1954), included with such as Erik Amundsen (bass). Furthermore, he played in The Modern Quartet, Kjell Karlsen's Orchestra, Mikkel Flagstad's Quintet, Egil Kapstad's «Syner», Radiostorbandet, the band Ool-Ya-Koo. He has also collaborated with jazz musicians som Laila Dalseth, Pepper Adams, George Russell, Bjarne Nerem and James Moody.
In the period from 1980 to 1985 he led his own quintet with among others Terje Venaas (bass), Eivin Sannes (piano) and Tom Olstad (drumes), and this was followed by a quintet with Harald Bergersen (saxophone), Erling Aksdal (piano, 1985–89). During the 1980s and 1990s he played in bands with Thorgeir Stubø, Per Husby Quintet, Magni Wentzel Quintet, and in Big Bands like the one led by Harald Gundhus/Ole Jacob Hansen and Erling Wicklund's «Storeslem».
Later he has led his own quartet with Rune Nicolaysen (saxophone), Freddy Hoel Nilsen (piano), Carl Morten Iversen (bass) and as a quintet including with Lars Erik Norum (drumes). He has also been a member of the ska band The Phantoms.
Honors
- 1986: Reenskaug award
Discography
- Atle Hammer Sextett
- 1954: Seven Eleven
- 1992: Arizona blue (Gemini Records), with Egil «Bop» Johansen, Egil Kapstad, Jon Gordon, Red Holloway and Terje Venaas
- With Egil Monn Iversen's Big Band
- 1985: Live At Gildevangen (Camp Records), featuring Sylfest Strutle
- With The Norwegian Radio Big Band
- 1988: The Norwegian Radio Big Band Meets Bob Florence (Odin Records)
- 1988: The Norwegian Radio Big Band Meets Bill Holman (Taurus Records)
- With Harald Bergersen
- 1988: Joy spring (Gemini Records)