Vanessa -

Vanessa was a Norwegian jazz-rock band that made the 1975 album City Lips for the On label, followed by the popular 1976 release Black and White on Compendium.

Members: Svend Undseth (flute, saxophone, guitar), Frode Holm (keyboards), Thorsten Dulsrud (drums), Harald Salater (bass), Jan Erik Pedersen (bass), Knut Værnes (guitar), Frank Aleksandersen (drums), Håkon Graf (keyboards), Brynjulf Blix (keyboards)

Background

Vanessa formed in 1973 in Oslo around saxophonist-flutist Svend Undseth, who began on classical flute and switched to saxophone at fourteen for a local garage band. He studied saxophone parts on British progressive-rock records, while the Miles Davis album Bitches Brew redirected him toward electric jazz.

Keyboardist Håkon Graf joined Ruphus in 1972 and recorded the albums New Born Day and Ranshart with the Oslo band. Keyboardist Brynjulf Blix played with guitarist Jon Eberson in Moose Loose at the 1973 Kongsberg Jazz Festival. Guitarist Knut Værnes grew up in Oslo and played in local rock groups Salt & Pepper and Shimmy. Drummer Frank Aleksandersen played with Namsos dance band Pax Normana on dates across Nord-Trøndelag. At eighteen, Aleksandersen moved from Namsos to Oslo.

By the first album, Vanessa paired Undseth with bassist Jan Erik Pedersen, drummer Aleksandersen, guitarist Værnes, and keyboardists Graf and Blix.

Discography: