Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (Danish pronunciation: [neils-henning orsted pedersen]) was born on May 27, 1946, and died on April 19, 2005. He was a Danish jazz musician who played the double bass. He was also known by his shortened name, NHØP.

Biography

Ørsted Pedersen was born in Osted, near Roskilde, on Zealand, Denmark, the son of a church organist. As a child, he played piano, but at age 13, he began learning to play upright bass. At 14, while studying, he started his professional jazz career in Denmark with his first band, Jazzkvintet 60 (Danish for Jazz Quintet 60). By age 15, he could accompany leading musicians at nightclubs, working regularly at Copenhagen's Jazzhus Montmartre after his debut there on New Year's Eve 1961, when he was 15. At age 17, he refused an offer to join Count Basie's orchestra because he was too young to legally live and work as a musician in the United States. His musical influences included Walter Page, Paul Chambers, Scott LaFaro, and Ray Brown.

Jazzhus Montmartre was a common place where touring American jazz musicians visited. As part of the house band, young Pedersen performed with saxophonists like Booker Ervin, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Stan Getz, and pianist Bill Evans, with whom he toured in Europe in 1965. During the 1960s, Pedersen played with many other important American jazz musicians who were touring or living in Denmark, including Ben Webster, Brew Moore, Bud Powell, Count Basie, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Jackie McLean, and vocalist Ella Fitzgerald.

He is perhaps best known for his long collaboration with Oscar Peterson from 1972 to 1987. His predecessor, Ray Brown, considered Pedersen the only upright bassist capable of matching Peterson's skill. Pedersen was awarded Best Bass Player of the Year by DownBeat Critics' Poll in 1981.

Pedersen worked in duo and trio arrangements with pianist Kenny Drew, recording over 50 albums together. He also performed with Stéphane Grappelli and Joe Pass and recorded extensively as a leader. His most famous songs include "My Little Anna," "Jaywalkin'," and "The Puzzle," along with jazz versions of traditional Danish folk songs. A duo performance with Rune Gustafsson at Vossajazz in 1980 was released on the album Just The Way You Are by Sonet Gramofon, recorded six months after they first met. He was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1991.

Pedersen had a special talent for playing Danish songs and folk melodies. He often performed in trio ensembles, sometimes with trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and keyboard player Kenneth Knudsen, and sometimes under his own name, usually with guitarists like Philip Catherine and Ulf Wakenius. In 1999, he co-led a duo with pianist Mulgrew Miller, touring Europe, Japan, Australia, and Korea. Later, this duo became a trio with drummer Alvin Queen. This trio stayed together until Pedersen's death.

Death

Ørsted Pedersen passed away due to heart failure in 2005 at the age of 58 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was with his wife, Solveig, and his three children during his final moments. Oscar Peterson wrote:

After hearing this exceptional skill on bass, I understood that we should meet someday, allowing me the chance to play with him. This idea formed in the early 1970s, when I was lucky enough to invite him to join my trio at that time.

I would like to describe my reaction to his playing in this way: First, he never interfered with my performance—but he also had a strong musical understanding of what I was trying to achieve, which inspired me greatly during spontaneous moments. That evening, I felt as if I were walking on a cloud because of Niels’ musical contribution. He had remarkable technique, along with excellent harmonic knowledge and perfect timing. I will never forget that evening.

From that evening onward, we became close friends, not only through music but also personally, as I gained great respect for Niels’ understanding of politics, geography, and personal matters. He had a deep knowledge of European history. He also had a kind and friendly nature, making it easy for him to form good friendships when he chose to do so.

Awards and honors

• 1974: Received a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Group Performance by The Trio, which included Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.
• 1981: Named Best Bass Player of the Year by the Downbeat Critics' Poll.
• 1991: Received the Nordic Council Music Prize.

Discography

• Edgar Wilson: Going Straight (MPS , 1979)
• Monty Alexander , Grady Tate: Threesome ( Soul Note , 1986)
• Alain Jean-Marie : Latin Alley (IDA, 1988) /think