Norway

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Petter Wettre had his international breakthrough in 1995 when he was NRK’s representative in the EBU Orchestra in Prague. This was only two years after he debuted at Kongsberg Jazz Festival with his own quartet. In 1994 and 1995 he also participated in Master Classes with renowned saxophonist Dave Liebman. In 1996 debuted as band leader with the album Pig Virus; the album was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy. Alongside his work with his quartet, he also formed the critically acclaimed The Trio. They released four albums throughout the 90’s and early 00’s. Their debut album, Meet the Locals was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy.

In 2000 they released the album In Color featuring Dave Liebman on soprano and tenor sax. The album came in seventh in jazz reviews announcement of that year’s top ten albums in the UK. In 2001 Wettre was awarded the Klart Svar Jazz Prize at Kongsberg Jazz Festival and also, he won his first Norwegian Grammy for Best Jazz Album; The Only Way to Travel. The same year, he recorded and produced his 5th album; The Mystery Unfolds. In 2003 Wettre established his own record label, Househo ld Records. His album, Hallmark Moments, is nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in 2004. Petter released his book of transcriptions, Live at the Lighthouse – Omnibook in 2005. Wettre debuted with his solo concert for saxophone, Paramount, at the Molde Int. Jazz Festival. In 2006 Petter headlined Kongsberg Jazz Festival with “Tribute to Coltrane” on the occasion of Coltrane’s 80th. birthday. In 2007 Wettre was yet again awarded another Norwegian Grammy for the album Fountain of Youth. He opens Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 2008 with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra playing his own music orchestrated by Django Bates. In February 2009 Wettre is once again representing NRK as an EBU musician with the repertoire from Fountain of Youth Orchestra version.

In 2010 Petter is nominated for his 6th Grammy for the album The Only Way to Travel 2, with acclaimed Norwegian drummer Audun Kleive. In 2012 Petter Wettre and Jason Rebello performs in Lithuania and South Korea and also, he performed in South Africa with Manu Katché. Wettre arranged and performed his own music for a specifically selected big band for the occasion of NOPA’s 75th year celebration. The concert is aired in 10 European countries. Other performances include: the London Jazz Festival with Ensemble Denada and concerts in Italy with Manu Katché and Ensemble Denada. In 2013 Petter Wettre releases his 17th recording as a leader, Reinventing Music, that is a duo recording with pianist Jason Rebello. He appeared at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival, the Nattjazz and the Molde Int. Jazz Festival with his own projects. He participated in concerts with Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen. In January 2014 Petter prepared and released his own app. This app includes all his music, combined with his social platforms, videos, pictures, web sites and exclusive behind the scenes looks at being an artist. He produces and records a two-hour radio program for NRK consisting of his own arrangements on standards with a group of musicians of his choice. In 2014 he opens the Nobel Peace Prize Concert with Queen Latifah. Wettre arranged the music of Charles Mingus for a special selected sextet during the Oslo Jazz Festival in August 2016. This project ends up touring throughout 2017 with 41 gigs in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and London. In December 2016 Petter does a week-long tour in China with the Canadian/Danish/Swedish project – “The North”. This tour continues in 2017 and includes Lithuania, Germany, Sweden and Denmark. The opens again the Oslo Jazz Festival in 2017 with Manu Katché & friends in the Opera House. In 2018, Wettre returns to South Africa with an ensemble that pays tribute to Michael Brecker. This project also tours in Norway and Denmark.