Background: The Danish saxophone player, composer and conductor Lars Møller (b. 1966) is a leading Scandinavian jazz figure. After living in New York 1987-89, playing with a number of legendary jazzmusicians, Lars Møller spend several prolonged periods in New Delhi in the early 90´s assimilating the highly emotional Indian classical music. As a composer he delicately combines his knowledge of the American jazz tradition with the melodic Nordic tradition and a very broad awareness of European classical music. He is a truly contemporary jazz composer and musician, who easily includes electronica, choir and global infuences in his music. The result is a unique lyrical and forceful personal expression. He has performed in Europe, USA, Asia, Australia and South America and received several awards. From 2012 to 2015s he was artistic director of Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (AJO) and successfully developed the band to one of the leading European bigbands. His most recent release with AJO “ReWrite of Spring” has been called “a soaring, sprawling conception, combining exquisite detail with monumental vision” (Downbeat) and “A milestone in Danish jazz” (Weekendavisen). From 2016 he is combining his international work with being composer in residence with AJO.
Saxophonist: He has played/recorded with Jimmy Cobb Group, Hermeto Pascoal, Jon Balke, Bobo Stensson, Anders Jormin, Martial Solal, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, Tom Harrel, Toots Thielmans, Katrine Madsen, Kasper Villaume Quartet, Sound of Choice Ensemble. From 2002 to 2009 he was member of The Danish Radio Big Band. He has also worked as a composer and soloist with leading Danish and European orchestras including European Broadcasting Union Big Band, Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra and Athelas Sinfonietta, Copenhagen.
Work as a conducter/composer with large ensembles: Lars Møller has worked with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (Artistic director 1912-15), EBU Big Band, Danish Radio Big Band, The Slovenian Radio Big Band and Choir, Norbotten Big Band, The Croatian Radio Big Band, Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, The Orchestra (Artistic director 1997-2011), Luzern Big Band and various Scandinavian Big Bands, Orchestras and Choirs. Performances in USA, India, China, Brazil and Europe.
Small Groups: He has released 9 CD’s in his own name with Geri Allen, Buster Williams, Billy Hart, NHØP, Jimmy Cobb, John Abercrombie and various other European musicians and others. He has performed with his bands in Europe, China, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong including the Blue Note in New York.
Work with stragety and project management.
As Artistic Director and General Manager of Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (2012-2015) Lars Møller led a major artistic and finaicial turnround and devellopen Aarhus Jazz Orchestra in to one of the leading big band s of Europe. Including 2 Danish Music Award and 4 nominations and an 20 % budget increase.
Awards:
-H.C Lumbye / Agerby Award 2015
-Special award from the Danish Arts Counsil for the CD “Episodes” 2011.
-1 Prize for best Big Band Composition. International Jazz Composers’ Symposium in 2008.
-3 year work grant from “The Danish Arts Counsil” 2006.
-Jazzpar bandleader 2003 w Geri Allen, Buster Williams and Billy Hart.
-The Danish Grammy for best CD 2000 (Kaleidoscope – NaxosJazz).
-The JASA award 2000 (critics and journalists).
-The honorary prize from The Danish Jazz, Beat and Folk Composers Society in 1998.
-Several nomination for Danish Music Awards
Education:
-BFA in jazz from New School 1987-89, New York - apprentice of David Liebmann 85-90.
-Indian classical music (New Delhi 1989-93).Several prolonged periods, studying the “Shahnei” with Daya Shankar and Anant Lal.
-Composers Workshop with Bob Brookmeyer, Copenhagen 1996-98
-Conducting 2002- with Frands Rasmussen, Morten Schuldt Jensen.
-Counterpoint etc. from 2005-06.