Audun Kleive
A Norwegian drummer whose explosive, polyrhythmic power reshaped the sound of European jazz and electronica.
Born 1961 (age 65)·Norwegian jazz drummer·Birthday: October 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Audun Kleive emerged from a deeply musical family in Skien, Norway, but forged a path distinctly his own behind the drum kit. Coming of age in the 1980s, he became a central force in Oslo's burgeoning experimental scene, equally at home in acoustic jazz quartets and blistering electric fusion bands. His work with the group Masqualero, alongside saxophonist Arild Andersen, showcased a melodic sensitivity, while his thunderous, complex grooves became the engine for the influential power-jazz trio Element. Kleive's reach extended far beyond traditional jazz; he was a key collaborator with composer and guitarist Jon Balke and brought his intricate, visceral rhythms to projects blending jazz with rock and electronic music, influencing a generation of Scandinavian musicians.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Audun was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Audun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Audun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- A founding and longtime member of the influential Norwegian jazz trio Element with saxophonist Trygve Seim and pianist Christian Wallumrød.
- Played a pivotal role in the acclaimed acoustic jazz quartet Masqualero, led by bassist Arild Andersen.
- Collaborated extensively with composer and pianist Jon Balke on multiple innovative projects, including the Magnetic North Orchestra.
- His drumming is featured on numerous landmark Norwegian jazz recordings from the 1990s and 2000s.
Did You Know?
He is the son of organist Kristoffer Kleive and brother of organist and composer Iver Kleive.
Kleive studied at the prestigious Trondheim Musikkonservatorium.
He has performed and recorded with a wide range of international artists, including guitarist Terje Rypdal.
Beyond drumming, he is also a composer and has released solo work.
“The silence between the notes is where the music actually lives.”
