Even Skatrud
A versatile Norwegian jazz musician and educator who bridges the gap between orchestral grandeur and intimate improvisation with his trombone.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Norwegian musician, composer, and orchestra leader·Birthday: August 18·Generation X
Biography
Even Skatrud moves through the Norwegian jazz scene as a multifaceted force: a warm-toned trombonist, a thoughtful composer, and a dedicated educator. His musical lineage is rich, but he has forged his own path by mastering the balance between written composition and spontaneous play. As a performer, he is known for his lyrical approach to the trombone, whether leading his own ensembles or contributing to large orchestras like the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. His work as a composer often explores the textures available when jazz meets chamber music, creating spaces for collective dialogue among musicians. Holding a lecturing position at the University of Oslo, Skatrud is equally committed to shaping the next generation of artists, passing on a philosophy that values both technical precision and creative freedom.
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 1977, 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 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Even's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
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
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has released several albums as a bandleader, including 'Skatrud/Dybvig/Rudi' and 'Oslo 13'.
- Serves as a lecturer in the Department of Musicology at the University of Oslo.
- Has performed extensively with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK).
- Composes and arranges music for a variety of ensembles, from small jazz groups to larger orchestral formats.
Did You Know?
He is the son of Norwegian musician Harry Andersen and artist Marit Skatrud Andersen.
He was previously married to Norwegian singer Anine Kruse.
His former father-in-law is the noted Norwegian contemporary composer Bjørn Kruse.
Skatrud has contributed to the album 'Merriweather' by the band Loch Ness Mouse.
“The music is in the space between the notes on the page and the air.”
