Carl Magnus Neumann, also known as Calle, is a noted saxophonist, considered as one of the best in Norway.
Biography
Neumann started playing the flute at an early age, before picking up the clarinet, playing with different swing bands in the late fifties. After taking hire as sailor for a few years, he returned to Oslo buying his first saxophone in 1963. Neumann received the audience award with the Quartet of Oddvar Paulsen at the Norwegian Championship in amateur jazz the same year, and from then on he became professional musician. He played rhythm & blues with Arild Wikstrom and Public Enemies in the mid 1960s and was ranked No. 1 Alto saxophonist in the Norwegian magazin Jazznytt's favorite poll in 1967. Neumann was early well recognized in the octet of Fred Nøddelund that contributed to the concert series at the Munch Museumarranged byNorsk jazzforum in 1968, and later as the leader of his own "Newman and the New Men". He played in bands led by Arild Wikstrøm and Roy Hellvin. He played in dance bands "Bent Sølves and Terje Fjærns orkester", and had festival gigs with Roy Hellvin, Karin Krog and Terje Bjørklund, in addition to releasing the albumBleak House with Terje Rypdal in 1968. He became a mighty popular soloist receiving the Buddyprisen in 1971, and released the album Multimal with Svein Finnerud Trio in 1972. Neumann led several bands at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival, including with Dizzy Gillespie. He was a key player on Club 7, and was dedicated the album Carl Magnus Rides Again by Ditlef Eckhoff. As soloist with Christian Reim Quartet he released Live at Moldejazz in 1976. Neumann played in the bands of Espen Rud, like "Kråbøl", and toured with the traditional Norwegian folk musiciansNils Økland and Bjørnar Andresen in 1985. After 13 years of musical silence, he became the lead figure of "The Quintet", with the debut of the jazz club "Blå" in 1998, followed by festival engagements at Vossajazz and Moldejazz in 1999 and in Oslo 2000. The concert at Voss 1999 immortalized on cd, and he received Oslo City Art Award in 2000. From 2000, he has lived a quieter life in Risør, but has collaborated on the albums Lost Animals with Vidar Johansen Quartet and To someone I knew by Erik Wesseltoft.
