Svante Henryson

Svante Henryson
Background information
Born October 22, 1963 (1963-10-22) (age 48)
Stockholm, Sweden
Genres Jazz, Classical, Hard rock, Fusion
Occupations Composer, Musician
Instruments Cello, Electric upright bass, Double Bass
Years active 1975–present
Labels ECM
Associated acts Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jon Balke, Ketil Bjørnstad

Svante Henryson (born October 22, 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a composer, cellist, electric bassist and double bassist, active within jazz, classical music, and hard rock.

Contents

Biography

Childhood & Studies

Svante Henryson grew up in Umeå in northern Sweden. His father was a Full Professor of Education, and his mother a Director of Studies in English at Umeå University.

At age 12, after falling in love-at-a-distance with a female bassist at a concert, Svante began playing electric bass in a rock band. Two years later, he switched to jazz and double bass. A concert with Stan Getz at the Umeå Jazz Festival made up his mind about becoming a musician. Another life-changing experience was hearing the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in concert in Östersund.

He left his hometown already at age 14 to study music: two years in Härnösand, three years at Ingesund College of Music and (later) one year at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.[1]

Early professional years

Still in his teens and halfway through music college, he became a member of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under Mariss Jansons 1983-1986. After making his solo debut with the Oslo Philharmonic in Vanhal's Bass Concerto , he became the orchestra's Assistant Principal Bassist.[2]

1987-1989 he was Principal Bassist of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra led by Iona Brown.

After a drastic change in direction, he became bass guitarist of Yngwie Malmsteen's band 1989-1992.[3] During this period he started playing cello, an instrument on which he is an autodidact.

Henrysons first solo album, Enkidu, was released in 1997.[4] He has also been prominently featured on many other albums in a very wide musical area. As a session player he has worked with Stevie Wonder, Ryan Adams, Nestor Marconi, Elvis Costello and Steve Gadd.[5]

Today

Svante Henryson is a composer of orchestral music, as well as choral music and chamber music.[6] His "Electric Bass Concerto", composed in 2007, introduces the electric bass in a new role as a classical solo instrument. Elvis Costello and Henryson collaborated as songwriters on the album "For the Stars".

Svante Henryson is an ECM recording artist, in various formations with Jon Balke, Arve Henriksen, Ketil Bjørnstad,[7] Nils Petter Molvaer, Arild Andersen, Marilyn Mazur, Tord Gustavsen and Trygve Seim.

He also performs in chamber music duos and trios with Roland Pöntinen, Martin Fröst,[8] Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg[9] and Mikael Samuelson. Svante has been the Musical Director of Asian, American and European tours with Anne Sofie von Otter.[10][11]

Svante Henryson currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden, and is married to Katarina Henryson, singer of The Real Group.

Works

(selected)

Orchestral

Choral

Chamber music

Discography

(selected)

As leader

With other artists

Classical

Hard Rock

Jazz

Pop

Rock

World

References

  1. ^ "Vancouver Recital Society 2008-2009 Season", p. 11
  2. ^ "Festival de violoncelle de Beauvais 2009" booklet p. 50 (in French)
  3. ^ "Cité de la Musique: Domaine Privé 2006: Anne Sofie von Otter " booklet p. 34 (in French)
  4. ^ Billboard Magazine, Volume: 111 Number: 21 ISSN: 00062510 Publication Date: 05-22-1999
  5. ^ YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2DGzaFkenE
  6. ^ Wiener Zeitung, Vienna, May 29, 2008 (in German)
  7. ^ The Guardian, London, March 27, 2006 (review)
  8. ^ Hamburger Abendblatt, Hamburg, April 11, 2009 "Experimente mit Bach" (in German)
  9. ^ "Teatro alla Scala 26 ottobre 2008" program booklet p. 33 (in Italian)
  10. ^ Star Tribune, Minneapolis, December 19, 1999 "Home for Christmas"
  11. ^ Los Angeles Times, December 17, 2004
  12. ^ Financial Times, Feb 19, 2008 "Wonderland in dead of winter"

External links