Trygve Seim (born 25 April 1971) is a Norwegian jazz saxophonist and composer. Seim has released numerous albums since 1992, including over 20 albums for ECM Records as a composer, band-leader or co-band-leader.

Career

Seim was born in Oslo and in 1985 was inspired to learn saxophone upon hearing Jan Garbarek's Eventyr by chance on a family excursion. Seim went on to study music at Foss videregående skole (1987–90). In between his studies, Seim spent a year in nearby Denmark, during which time he began a short-lived group with pianist Carsten Dahl and became increasingly influenced by the playing of Dexter Gordon. Upon returning to Norway, Seim attended the Jazz program of the Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1990–93), where he completed studies in jazz saxophone. Seim's jazz education was supplemented by participation in New York jam sessions during his frequent overseas trips to visit his father, who worked in the Norwegian diplomatic service. In 1991, he founded the group Airamero with fellow student, the pianist Christian Wallumrød. Bassist Johannes Eick and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen completed the group line-up, and in 1994 their eponymously named album was released. Seim became a member of Jon Balke's band Oslo 13 in 1992 and soon after was instrumental in forming the jazz quartet, The Source, with fellow Trondheim Musikkonservatorium alumni Øyvind Brække, Mats Eilertsen and Per Oddvar Johansen. Considered to be a highly creative ensemble, The Source released a series of critically successful albums, including several on ECM Records and have remained an active ensemble throughout Seim's career, collaborating with other musicians for specific projects, including Edward Vesala and Kenny Wheeler. Seim's debut release as a leader came in 2000, with Different Rivers, released on the German record label ECM Records. Receiving positive reviews upon release, Different Rivers won the German Record Critics Prize, "Jahrespreis – Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik" in 2001, and began Seim's long association with ECM Records, both as a leader and as a sideman, including for Jacob Young, Manu Katché, Iro Haarla, Sinikka Langeland, and Mats Eilertsen. While jazz critics have suggested that Seim's performing and composing aligns within the ECM lineage, many have also noted that he has cultivated a unique style of performance and composition, making his work difficult to categorize. Seim is noted for making unconventional choices in his ensemble instrumentation, frequently using large ensembles but also working in smaller contexts, including duos. His unique contribution to the legacy of ECM recordings was celebrated in 2010 when his composition and arrangement, 'Ulrikas Dans', was selected for inclusion in Arild Andersen's Celebration album, alongside those of Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Dave Holland, Chick Corea, and Andersen himself. Recorded with Tommy Smith and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Celebrations was devised as a contribution to ECM's 40th anniversary celebrations. He won Grammy Awards with Nidarosdomens jentekor, Trygve Seim & TrondheimSolistene Best Immersive Audio Album at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards 2020 (2L/Morten Lindberg) https://shop.2l.no/products/lux-nidarosdomen

Personal life

Seim has two children with the Norwegian journalist and writer Åsne Seierstad (b. 1970).

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman/collaborator

With 1300 Oslo With Jon Balke Batagraf Bodega Band With Mats Eilertsen With Harr & Hartberg With Iro Haarla With Manu Katché With Sinikka Langeland With Håvard Lund With Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble With Motorpsycho With Odd Nordstoga Og Det Norske Kammerorkester With Jørn Skogheim With Squid With Christian Wallumrød With Petter Wettre