Bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen was born May 27, 1946 on the Danish island of Zealand.

By 15 he was already accompanying top musicians and by 17 he had to say no to an invitation to join the Count Basie Orchestra because he was too young.

As a member of the Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen he backed Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stan Getz, and Bill Evans. He played in other Danish venues with Bud Powell, Count Basie, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Jackie McLean, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Celebrated Danish jazz bassist, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen formed his first group “Jazzkvintet 60” during his early teens in 1960 and had his debut performance at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen on New Year’s Eve 1961.

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen was well known for jazz arrangements of traditional Danish folk songs and was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1991.

Among his best known original songs are “Jaywalkin’”, “My Little Anna”, and “The Puzzle.”

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen performs a Danish folksong accompanied by Kenny Drew in 1973.

Personnel:

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, bass
Kenny Drew, piano
Hugo Rasmussen, bass
Max Leth, piano