Even Ormestad
A Norwegian bassist and sonic architect who helped shape Jaga Jazzist's intricate, genre-defying soundscapes.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Norwegian bassist and producer·Birthday: November 9·Generation X
Biography
Even Ormestad grew up in Oslo and found his musical footing not just as a bassist but as a core creative force within the collective Jaga Jazzist. From the band's early days, his role expanded beyond providing low-end grooves to include production, arrangement, and a shared compositional vision. His work is integral to the band's evolution from jazz-fusion experimenters to a group crafting vast, cinematic instrumental epics that weave together electronica, rock, and orchestral ambition. Ormestad's quiet, steady influence is heard in the layered complexity and emotional depth of their recordings, making him a pivotal figure in Norway's vibrant contemporary music scene.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Even was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Even Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Even's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- A foundational member and bassist for the innovative Norwegian ensemble Jaga Jazzist since its formation.
- Co-produced and contributed to critically acclaimed albums like 'The Stix' and 'One-Armed Bandit'.
- Helped steer Jaga Jazzist's sound towards a more expansive, electronic-tinged progressive style in the 2000s.
- His collaborative work within the band has garnered international cult status and multiple Norwegian Grammy awards.
Did You Know?
He is the nephew of jazz guitarist Jon Eberson.
Ormestad also runs his own recording studio in Oslo.
He has contributed to projects and recordings for other Norwegian artists beyond Jaga Jazzist.
“The bass line is the foundation, but the production shapes the entire room.”
