Trygve Seim

Norwegian saxophonist and composer Trygve Seim is known internationally for his recordings as a leader and sideman on ECM. In Europe and Asia his multi-label catalog of recordings is nearly ubiquitous. His membership in guitarist Jacob Young's quintet spread his reputation globally. Seim's 2004 album Sangam was widely celebrated for its fusion of jazz, international pop, and modernist styles, while 2010's Purcor: Songs for Saxophone and Piano paired him with pianist Andreas Utnem. 2016's Rumi Songs was an extended meditation on the 13th century Persian poet's work recorded with a quartet that included mezzo-soprano Tora Augestad. 2024's Our Time was a duo with saxophonist Frode Haltli, while 2025's Arcanum was collectively recorded by the saxophonist, trumpeter Arve Henriksen, bassist Anders Jormin, and drummer Markku Ounaskari. Seim was born in Norway in 1971 and began playing saxophone in 1985 after hearing Jan Garbarek's Eventyr album. That tone has followed him throughout the decades, but Seim's approach is warmer and sparser than his great influence's. He studied at the famed Trondheim Musikkonservatorium with Edward Vesala and Terje Bjørklund in the early '90s. In 1991, he and Christian Wallumrød (a fellow student) formed the quartet Airamero with bassist Johannes Eick and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen. The saxophonist also joined Jon Balke's large band Oslo 13 in 1992. Eventually, he became one of its co-leaders. Airamero issued a lone, self-titled album in 1994. Through the rest of the '90s, Seim played on records by Motorpsycho, Jacob Young, Squid, and Odd Nordstoga, to name a few. He also co-founded the Source with Johansen, Øyvind Brække, and Mats Eilertsen. The saxophonist issued his ECM leader debut Different Rivers in 2001, followed by The Source with Different Cikadas (with Brække and Johansen), Wallumrød's Sofienberg Variations, and with Balke's Magnetic North Orchestra on Kyanos in 2002. Sangam, his next album as a leader, was issued in 2004. In 2006, the Source issued its self-titled album. Seim joined Sinnika Langeland's "Starflowers" group that year -- as did Arve Henriksen and Anders Jormin. Her 2007 album of the same name marked the initial collaboration of a band that has continued to tour and record. Seim followed with two more collaborative, co-headlined albums: Yeraz with accordionist Frodi Haltli was released in 2008, and Purcor with Andreas Utnem came out in 2010. Over the next five years, he recorded with the Source and appeared on albums by Manu Katche and Arild Andersen, among others. 2016 proved prolific for Seim: He contributed to Iro Haarla's Ante Lucem, Eilertsen's Rubicon, and Langeland's The Magical Forest. In addition, his own Rumi Songs appeared in September. It offered recordings of his musical settings of works by the 13th century poet and mystic, sung by mezzo-soprano Tora Augestad. The saxophonist Haltli and violin-cellist Svante Henryson provided accompaniment. In 2017, he formed his "Helsinki Quartet" with Norwegian bassist Mats Eilertsen, Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu, and Finland's Markku Ounaskari on drums. Together they recorded and released Helsinki Songs in 2018. Comprising original tunes, it offered tributes to his bandmates and dedications to Igor Stravinsky, Jimmy Webb, Ornette Coleman, and Bill Evans. For years afterward, Seim reteamed with pianist Utnem to release Christmas Songs. Two years later, the saxophonist teamed up with Finnish accordionist Frode Haltli for the duo set Our Time. Its 12 tunes included three multi-part improvisational suites, various oprignals, and covers of Igor Stravnisky's Les Cinq Doigts No. 5 and the traditional "Oy Khodyt' Son, Kolo Vikon." In 2025, Seim was part of the all-star quartet that released Arcanum on ECM with trumpeter Arve Henriksen, bassist Anders Jormin, and drummer/percussionist Markku Ounaskari. The program consisted of ten collective, lyrical improvisations amid sensitive interplay. Further, Seim thru-composed two tunes, and Jormin one. The set also included a reading of Ornette Coleman's "What Reason Could I Give," arranged by the bassist. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi