Biography
Mette Henriette emerged in her teenage years as a Norwegian saxophonist and composer, quickly establishing herself within her nation’s circles of improvisation and contemporary classical music. Among her many associates stand Sidsel Endresen, Marina Abramovic, and Tim Berne; she also belonged to the ensemble Torg. After signing with ECM she released her self-titled debut in 2015, captured by a trio plus a 13-piece orchestra. Her second ECM album, Drifting, placed her once more alongside cellist Judith Harman and pianist Johann Lindval.
Born Mette Henriette Martedatter Rølvåg in 1990 in Trondheim, she traces her lineage to the indigenous Samí people. Trumpet served as her initial instrument during elementary-school marching-band rehearsals, yet she changed to saxophone at age twelve. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Norway Music Academy in Oslo and pursued further studies in improvisational music at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the United States.
Additional partnerships in Europe have included Christian Wallumrød and Karin Krog, while engagements in the U.S. have brought her together with Tom Rainey and Jim Black. She has created scores for the Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Rikskonsertene, and the Cikada Quartet.
She performed in the Aella trio with saxophonist Patrick Breiner and drummer Max Goldman; their self-titled recording appeared on 577 Records in 2012. In 2014 she received Norway’s Geir Digernes Memorial award during Moldejazz. She remains a member of the large ensemble Torg, whose album Kost/Elak/Gnäll, issued by Jazzland in 2015, was produced by Bugge Wesseltoft.
Manfred Eicher encountered Henriette by chance at a Dino Saluzzi concert in Oslo. While she worked at Rainbow Studio, he invited her to submit recordings; after reviewing the tapes he offered her a contract. The resulting self-titled debut, produced by Eicher and tracked across two months in 2014 with both a trio and a 13-piece orchestra, reached international audiences to widespread praise in November 2015.
Over the following years she devoted herself to commissioned compositions and performances, simultaneously developing material with the trio featuring pianist Johann Lindval—already present on her first ECM release—and Australian cellist Judith Harman. Initial sessions took place at Oslo’s Munich Museum; the project was completed at Studios La Buissonne under Eicher’s close supervision. The finished album, Drifting, appeared in January 2023.
Born Mette Henriette Martedatter Rølvåg in 1990 in Trondheim, she traces her lineage to the indigenous Samí people. Trumpet served as her initial instrument during elementary-school marching-band rehearsals, yet she changed to saxophone at age twelve. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Norway Music Academy in Oslo and pursued further studies in improvisational music at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the United States.
Additional partnerships in Europe have included Christian Wallumrød and Karin Krog, while engagements in the U.S. have brought her together with Tom Rainey and Jim Black. She has created scores for the Ultima Contemporary Music Festival, Rikskonsertene, and the Cikada Quartet.
She performed in the Aella trio with saxophonist Patrick Breiner and drummer Max Goldman; their self-titled recording appeared on 577 Records in 2012. In 2014 she received Norway’s Geir Digernes Memorial award during Moldejazz. She remains a member of the large ensemble Torg, whose album Kost/Elak/Gnäll, issued by Jazzland in 2015, was produced by Bugge Wesseltoft.
Manfred Eicher encountered Henriette by chance at a Dino Saluzzi concert in Oslo. While she worked at Rainbow Studio, he invited her to submit recordings; after reviewing the tapes he offered her a contract. The resulting self-titled debut, produced by Eicher and tracked across two months in 2014 with both a trio and a 13-piece orchestra, reached international audiences to widespread praise in November 2015.
Over the following years she devoted herself to commissioned compositions and performances, simultaneously developing material with the trio featuring pianist Johann Lindval—already present on her first ECM release—and Australian cellist Judith Harman. Initial sessions took place at Oslo’s Munich Museum; the project was completed at Studios La Buissonne under Eicher’s close supervision. The finished album, Drifting, appeared in January 2023.
Albums
Singles
