Harald Devold, Norwegian jazz musician, Died at 51

Harald Devold was born on May 13, 1964, and died on February 19, 2016.

He was a Norwegian jazz musician.

He played alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute, from Vadsø, Finnmark.

He was also known as a big band organizer, music producer, and music political activist.

Harald Devold was born raised in Langevåg, Sula, Møre og Romsdal.

He received his musical education at Norwegian Academy of Music.

Harald Devold was known for his versatility as a musician and has since the 1980s been one of Norway’s most commonly used freelance musicians.

He was a driving force for the big band Oslo Groove Company receiving the 1990 Spellemannprisen.

Harald Devold settled in Vadsø (1995) and then worked as head of Scene Finnmark, which inter alia disposes regional musician groups LINK and Ensemble Noor.

Harald was a music producer for Scene Finnmark.

After he participated in the initiation of a number of productions, which toured the Barents Region and played a key role for building contacts between Norwegian and Russian musicians.

These also include production like, ‘we find artists like Angélique Kidjo, Morten Abel, Frode Alnæs, Hallgeir Pedersen, Kai Somby, Sondre Lerche, Mari Boine, Petter Carlsen, Marte Heggelund, Ivar Thomassen, Marit Hætta Øverli, Inga Juuso, Anne Grete Preus, Hector Bingert and Knut Kristansen.

Whilst he was a musician, he has also collaborated with various Sami artists, such as Siellu Dalkas releasing an album in 2006.

In 2005, he was selected as Chairman for Norsk Jazzforum (NJF).

Harald Devold passed away at 51 yrs old due to cancer.