Petter Wettre
A fiery saxophonist who fused the intensity of American jazz with Nordic cool, becoming a pillar of Norway's vibrant scene.
Born 1967 (age 59)·Norwegian jazz saxophonist and composer·Birthday: August 11·Generation X
Biography
Emerging from Oslo's rich jazz environment, Petter Wettre established himself as a formidable force with a sound that is both muscular and meticulously crafted. He cut his teeth in New York City in the early 1990s, absorbing the energy of the city's clubs before returning to Norway to forge his own distinct path. Wettre's music often walks a compelling line between the harmonic sophistication of post-bop and a more direct, rock-influenced drive. His work as a bandleader, particularly with his long-standing trio, is marked by a fierce commitment to original composition and interactive, high-wire improvisation. Winning Norway's prestigious Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian Grammy) twice is a testament to his peer recognition, solidifying his status not just as a skilled player, but as a essential composer and shaping voice in contemporary European jazz.
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.
Petter was born in 1967, 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 Petter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Petter's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
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
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
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 50
#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 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Awarded the Spellemannprisen, Norway's top music prize, on two separate occasions for his album work.
- Released a influential series of albums on the Fresh Sound New Talent label in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Led a respected and long-running trio that became a key vehicle for his original compositions.
- Performed and recorded with a wide array of international jazz artists, contributing to the global dialogue of the music.
Did You Know?
He studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to New York.
Wettre's album 'Pig Virus' was named Album of the Year by the Norwegian jazz magazine 'Jazznytt.'
He has cited both John Coltrane and punk rock as significant influences on his aggressive playing style.
“The saxophone is a voice; my job is to make it speak truth.”
