Gear
“I have been using Reunion Blues gig bags exclusively for well over 20 years now - in fact the one I still use on a daily basis has toured with me around the world since 2007. That should tell you something about the quality of these products!"
Bjørn Solli is a Norwegian guitarist, vocalist, and composer who, over more than 20 years, has established himself as a central voice in both Norwegian and international jazz. With a career spanning several continents, he has performed at prestigious festivals and venues, released a number of critically acclaimed albums, and collaborated with some of the world’s leading jazz musicians.
Solli studied at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim (1998–2002), earning a Cand.mag. degree and the title of adjunkt. He has also studied privately with Lee Konitz, Jason Moran, and Rodney Jones. Already during his student years, he distinguished himself as a promising guitarist, and in 2000 he formed the trio SOLID!, which won Jazzintro in 2002 and was named “Young Jazz Musicians of the Year.”
Releases and projects
As a bandleader, Solli has released several albums with different projects. Highlights include The Lyngør Project (2014/2016), recorded in New York with Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, Aaron Parks, Matt Clohesy, and Bill Stewart. With the trio SOLID!, he has released six albums, including collaborations with Seamus Blake and John Ellis, and with the group Gigglemug he released Weisenheimer in 2023. His most recent album, Sounds Made Up (2025), presents him in close interplay with John Ellis, Jongkuk Kim, and Phil Donkin.
As a sideman, Solli has contributed to numerous recordings with musicians such as Ivan Mazuze, Piero Gaddi, John Pål Inderberg, Petter Wettre, Julian Haugland, Jascha Hoffman, Guy Sion, and Emily Cavanagh. His discography shows a breadth that ranges from small, acoustic formats to larger ensemble projects and collaborations with vocalists, string players, and big bands.
International career
Solli has maintained a significant international concert activity. He lived in New York for five years, performing regularly at clubs such as Smalls, Fat Cat, 55Bar, Smoke, Blues Alley, The Bitter End, and Lincoln Center, and has toured in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. His collaborations in Italy and China have been particularly extensive, with repeated tours, festival appearances, and album recordings.
He has performed at festivals such as Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Moldejazz, Oslo Jazz Festival, Maijazz, Dølajazz, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and many others. He has been a soloist seven times with the WDR Big Band in Germany, as well as several times with the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra at Akershus Fortress and Kulturkirken Jakob.
Collaborations and highlights
Throughout his career, Solli has collaborated with a wide range of leading musicians, both Norwegian and international. These include Bendik Hofseth, Ola Kvernberg, Chris Potter, Cameron Brown, David Friedman, Jon Gordon, Matt Brewer, Scott Robinson, Jimmy Rosenberg, Marcus Strickland, Matt Penman, Will Vinson, Kendrick Scott, Rodney Green, Ben Wendel, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Jonathan Blake, Mark Ferber, Peter Bernstein, Lage Lund, Emanuele Cisi, Bryn Roberts, Kevin Dean, Orlando LeFleming, Linley Marthe, Mathias Eick, Mats Eilertsen, Håkon Kornstad, James Morrison, and Kevin Hays.
Notable highlights include performing with Kurt Elling at the Norwegian Opera House; extensive work with Bugge Wesseltoft’s Organ Club; a concert at the Cologne Philharmonie with Chris Potter and the WDR Big Band; festival appearances with the Piero Gaddi Quintet in Italy; and multiple tours in Asia with his own trio and other projects. He has also appeared as a soloist at major television and concert events, such as the Quart Festival (2004) and before 18,000 people at the Nelson Mandela concert in Tromsø (2005).
Awards and recognition
Solli has received numerous awards for his playing and compositions. He has won soloist prizes in Belgium, Spain, and Monaco, as well as the composition prize at the Tremplin Jazz Festival in France. He has also received the Jazzradio Have No Fear award, and in 2005 took 2nd place in the prestigious Gibson Jazz Guitar Competition in Montreux and 1st place at the band competition in Getxo, Spain with SOLID! in 2003.
Composition and other work
In addition to his work as a performer, Solli has composed music for theatre, film, and commercials. The Lyngør Project was developed during several composer residencies in Lyngør, supported by the Norwegian Composers’ Remuneration Fund, and represents one of his most ambitious artistic projects. He has also been awarded working grants from the Norwegian Composers’ Fund, NOPA, and TONO.
Summary
Bjørn Vidar Solli is a versatile musician who combines guitar, vocals, and composition at a high level. His work spans intimate trio formats to collaborations with big bands and orchestras, and his career is marked by a strong international orientation. With deep roots in the Norwegian jazz tradition and extensive experience from New York and around the world, Solli has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.
Bjørn Solli
“I have been using Reunion Blues gig bags exclusively for well over 20 years now - in fact the one I still use on a daily basis has toured with me around the world since 2007. That should tell you something about the quality of these products!"
Bjørn Solli is a Norwegian guitarist, vocalist, and composer who, over more than 20 years, has established himself as a central voice in both Norwegian and international jazz. With a career spanning several continents, he has performed at prestigious festivals and venues, released a number of critically acclaimed albums, and collaborated with some of the world’s leading jazz musicians.
Solli studied at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim (1998–2002), earning a Cand.mag. degree and the title of adjunkt. He has also studied privately with Lee Konitz, Jason Moran, and Rodney Jones. Already during his student years, he distinguished himself as a promising guitarist, and in 2000 he formed the trio SOLID!, which won Jazzintro in 2002 and was named “Young Jazz Musicians of the Year.”
Releases and projects
As a bandleader, Solli has released several albums with different projects. Highlights include The Lyngør Project (2014/2016), recorded in New York with Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, Aaron Parks, Matt Clohesy, and Bill Stewart. With the trio SOLID!, he has released six albums, including collaborations with Seamus Blake and John Ellis, and with the group Gigglemug he released Weisenheimer in 2023. His most recent album, Sounds Made Up (2025), presents him in close interplay with John Ellis, Jongkuk Kim, and Phil Donkin.
As a sideman, Solli has contributed to numerous recordings with musicians such as Ivan Mazuze, Piero Gaddi, John Pål Inderberg, Petter Wettre, Julian Haugland, Jascha Hoffman, Guy Sion, and Emily Cavanagh. His discography shows a breadth that ranges from small, acoustic formats to larger ensemble projects and collaborations with vocalists, string players, and big bands.
International career
Solli has maintained a significant international concert activity. He lived in New York for five years, performing regularly at clubs such as Smalls, Fat Cat, 55Bar, Smoke, Blues Alley, The Bitter End, and Lincoln Center, and has toured in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. His collaborations in Italy and China have been particularly extensive, with repeated tours, festival appearances, and album recordings.
He has performed at festivals such as Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Moldejazz, Oslo Jazz Festival, Maijazz, Dølajazz, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and many others. He has been a soloist seven times with the WDR Big Band in Germany, as well as several times with the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra at Akershus Fortress and Kulturkirken Jakob.
Collaborations and highlights
Throughout his career, Solli has collaborated with a wide range of leading musicians, both Norwegian and international. These include Bendik Hofseth, Ola Kvernberg, Chris Potter, Cameron Brown, David Friedman, Jon Gordon, Matt Brewer, Scott Robinson, Jimmy Rosenberg, Marcus Strickland, Matt Penman, Will Vinson, Kendrick Scott, Rodney Green, Ben Wendel, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Jonathan Blake, Mark Ferber, Peter Bernstein, Lage Lund, Emanuele Cisi, Bryn Roberts, Kevin Dean, Orlando LeFleming, Linley Marthe, Mathias Eick, Mats Eilertsen, Håkon Kornstad, James Morrison, and Kevin Hays.
Notable highlights include performing with Kurt Elling at the Norwegian Opera House; extensive work with Bugge Wesseltoft’s Organ Club; a concert at the Cologne Philharmonie with Chris Potter and the WDR Big Band; festival appearances with the Piero Gaddi Quintet in Italy; and multiple tours in Asia with his own trio and other projects. He has also appeared as a soloist at major television and concert events, such as the Quart Festival (2004) and before 18,000 people at the Nelson Mandela concert in Tromsø (2005).
Awards and recognition
Solli has received numerous awards for his playing and compositions. He has won soloist prizes in Belgium, Spain, and Monaco, as well as the composition prize at the Tremplin Jazz Festival in France. He has also received the Jazzradio Have No Fear award, and in 2005 took 2nd place in the prestigious Gibson Jazz Guitar Competition in Montreux and 1st place at the band competition in Getxo, Spain with SOLID! in 2003.
Composition and other work
In addition to his work as a performer, Solli has composed music for theatre, film, and commercials. The Lyngør Project was developed during several composer residencies in Lyngør, supported by the Norwegian Composers’ Remuneration Fund, and represents one of his most ambitious artistic projects. He has also been awarded working grants from the Norwegian Composers’ Fund, NOPA, and TONO.
Summary
Bjørn Vidar Solli is a versatile musician who combines guitar, vocals, and composition at a high level. His work spans intimate trio formats to collaborations with big bands and orchestras, and his career is marked by a strong international orientation. With deep roots in the Norwegian jazz tradition and extensive experience from New York and around the world, Solli has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.