Claus Hansen Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (27 May 1946 – 19 April 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro. He was born in Osted near Roskilde, on the Danish island of Zealand. The "great Dane with the never-ending name" was known as "NHØP" among many jazz fans. In Denmark he was most often simply talked about as "Niels-Henning" and certainly never "Pedersen", a name shared by almost 4% of the Danish population.. As a child, NHØP played piano. As a teenager, he started learning to play contrabass and at the age of 14, he began his professional jazz career in Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen. At 17 he turned down an offer to join the Count Basie orchestra. During the 1960s, NHØP played with several important American jazzmen who were touring in Denmark, including Albert Ayler, Bill Evans, Brew Moore, Bud Powell, Count Basie, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Jackie McLean, Roland Kirk, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, and the vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. In the 1970s he worked in a duo with pianist Kenny Drew, and began making occasional appearances with the Oscar Peterson Trio throughout Europe and North America. Together, they have recorded over 50 albums. He has also worked with Stéphane Grappelli and recorded extensively as a leader. His most known songs are My little Anna, Jaywalkin and The Puzzle. Besides jazz, he also was an interpreter of Danish folk poetry and songs. Besides many other awards, he was also awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1991. Together with his friend Ole Koch Hansen he toured Denmark with the theme "Danske toner" comprising old Danish folk songs. NHØP died in Copenhagen, Denmark, of heart failure, at the age of 58.
“Uncharted Land” give a picture of his artistic diversity, such as his phenomenal timekeeping and technique, his foundness for the repertoire of traditional Danish folk music and songbooks, his ability to carry a melody, his well-deserved reputation as a sideman with some of the biggest ears in the business, and his special way of performing an unaccompanied solo piece
Tracks
01. Moving Pictures (Jan Garbarek)
02. Uncharted Land, vocal (NHOP/Liza Freeman)
03. Natten Er Sa Stille (Weyse)
04. Norddavind (trad. arr. Jan Garbarek)
05. A Nightingale Sang In (Manning Sherwin)
06. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill)
07. Joron (trad. arr. Jan garbarek)
08. Too Many Names (Steve Swallow)
09. Uncharted Land, instrumental (NHOP)
10. Black Space (Jan Garbarek)
NIELS HENNING ORSTED PEDERSEN acoustic bass
JAN GARBAREK saxophone, keyboard programming (1, 4, 7, 10)
MEHMET OZAN acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 10)
MARILYN MAZUR percussion (1, 4, 7, 10)
ARS NOVA voices
STEVE SWALLOW electric 5-string bass (2, 8. 9)
SOS FERGER vocal
OLE KOCK HANSEN piano (3)
MICHAEL PETRUCCIANI piano (5, 6)
01. Moving Pictures (Jan Garbarek)
02. Uncharted Land, vocal (NHOP/Liza Freeman)
03. Natten Er Sa Stille (Weyse)
04. Norddavind (trad. arr. Jan Garbarek)
05. A Nightingale Sang In (Manning Sherwin)
06. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill)
07. Joron (trad. arr. Jan garbarek)
08. Too Many Names (Steve Swallow)
09. Uncharted Land, instrumental (NHOP)
10. Black Space (Jan Garbarek)
NIELS HENNING ORSTED PEDERSEN acoustic bass
JAN GARBAREK saxophone, keyboard programming (1, 4, 7, 10)
MEHMET OZAN acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7, 10)
MARILYN MAZUR percussion (1, 4, 7, 10)
ARS NOVA voices
STEVE SWALLOW electric 5-string bass (2, 8. 9)
SOS FERGER vocal
OLE KOCK HANSEN piano (3)
MICHAEL PETRUCCIANI piano (5, 6)
Recorded and mixed at Sweet Silence Studios, Denmark October 1991 and March 1992
Pladecompagniet PCLP 8045 / EPIC EPC 481363 - 2