Tore Brunborg (born 20 May 1960) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer who plays saxophone. He was born in Trondheim but grew up in Voss where a jazz environment was flowering. Known from numerous appearances with international greats including Bugge Wesseltoft, Håvard Wiik, Audun Kleive, Anders Jormin, Diederik Wissels, Arild Andersen, Pat Metheny, Per Jørgensen, Geir Lysne, Misha Alperin, Bjørn Alterhaug, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Jarle Vespestad, Jon Christensen, Jon Balke, Nils Petter Molvær, Vigleik Storaas, Bo Stief, and Billy Cobham.
Career
After playing with Knut Kristiansen and Per Jørgensen, Brunborg debuted at Vossajazz (1980, 1982). After this he studied music at Toneheim folkehøgskole and on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1980–82), and has evolved to be one of the most sought jazz saxophonists in Norway.
He was on the lineup for the acclaimed band Masqualero and was three times awarded Spellemannprisen with this band. Brunborg also was within Jon Eberson's Jazzpunkensemblet (two record releases). He performed with Pat Metheny at the Moldejazz (2001), and has appeared in a wide range of lineups with different jazz orchestras since. At the Norwegian Jazz scene he has been most recognized for the cooperation with Arild Andersen and his music for "Kristin Lavransdatter", performed to the Olympic Games at Lillehammer. He is a member of the Jazz quartet Moment together with Jørn Øien, Jens Fossum and Andreas Bye.
During the past few years he has worked with Mathias Eick, Manu Katché, the Tord Gustavsen Ensemble and Ketil Bjørnstad. He also plays a key role on three of Mats Eilertsen's records (Radio Yonder, Sky Dive and Hymn for Hope), and with the band Scent of Soil fronted by vocalist Kirsti Huke and Brunborg. On their first album, they make use of material from a critically acclaimed commissioned work they wrote together for the Vossajazz Festival in 2010.
Awards and honors
Spellemannprisen 1983 in the class jazz for the album Masqualero, with the band Masqualero Spellemannprisen 1986 in the class jazz for the album Bande a Part, with the band Masqualero Spellemannprisen 1991 in the class jazz for the album Re-enter, with the band Masqualero Vossajazzprisen 2013
Discography
Solo albums
1993: Tid (Curling Legs), with Bugge Wesseltoft and Jon Christensen
1997: Prima Luna (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), with Kjetil Bjerkestrand
1998: Orbit (Curling Legs), with Jarle Vespestad
2003: Gravity (Vossa Jazz), with Bugge Wesseltoft, Lars Danielsson and Anders Engen 2009: Lucid Grey (Dravle) 2011: Scent of Soil (Hubro), with Kirsti Huke 2012: Extended Circle (ECM) 2015: Slow Snow (ACT)
Collaborations
Within Masqualero, including Nils Petter Molvær, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen
1983: Masqualero (Odin), Jon Balke
1983: Bande À Part (ECM), with Jon Balke
1988: Aero (ECM), with Frode Alnæs
1991: Re-enter (ECM)
With others
1992: Night Caller [Label Bleu), with Rita Marcotulli, Michel Benita, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jon Christensen, Anders Kjellberg 1995: Gull, Røkelse Og Myrra (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), with Kjetil Bjerkestrand 1997: 'Mbara Boom (EmArcy), with Paolo Vinaccia, Arild Andersen, feat. Il Coro Di Neoneli 2009: Restored, Returned (ECM) within Tord Gustavsen ensemble 2010: Remembrance (ECM), with Ketil Bjørnstad 2011: Skala (ECM), with Mathias Eick 2012: The Well (ECM) within Tord Gustavsen Quartet 2014: Live in Concert (ACT), with Manu Katché 2015: Everblue (L&H), with Yelena Eckemoff feat. Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen