Edvard Askeland (born 10 December 1954) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from a series of album releases in various genres and for being regular in Dag Arnesens lineups in 1970âÂÂ80, and within Cutting Edge.
Askeland was born in Bergen, Norway. He was educated at Bergen Lærerhøgskole, and University of Oslo (Bachelor in music). During his musical period in Bergen he played within different Dag Arnesen lineups, within ëDanmarksplass Jazz & Rockû and ëBergen Blues Bandû (1974âÂÂ80), to mention a few. After moving to Oslo in 1980, he joined the band ëCountry Teamû (1980âÂÂ82) and various jazz bands, like ëEimû, Søyr and Frode Thingnæs Big Band. The contributions in the renowned Cutting Edge resulted in four record releases during the 1980'es with Knut Værnes, Morten Halle, Rune Klakegg, Frank Jakobsen and Stein Inge Brækhus. In 2004 he established the Bass Ensemble ëBassoNovaû together with Stein Erik Tafjord. He also has played on tour with Morten Halle Quartet, and was in the lineup for Van Morrison at Vossajazz in 1988.
In other genres, he has contributed on among others Alarmen gÃÂ¥r (1982) with Jan Eggum, and Fra nei til ja (1994) with Ole Paus. Poems by Hans Børli was released on Prøv ÃÂ¥ sette vinger pÃÂ¥ en stein (1996) with Katja Medbøe. He was central in Kjell Habbestad's Noahs draum (1998). Askeland composed music to texts by the poet Olav H. Hauge on Under stjernone (2005), where Hildegun Riise recite poems, Per Jørgensen play trumpet, Eivind Aarset (guitar) and Paolo Vinaccia (drums). This material was premiered at Vossajazz in 2005.
Askeland was awarded Gammleng-prisen class studio in 1993 and from April 2007 General Manager of Oslo Jazzfestival.