Household Records

Household Records is a Norwegian independent record label founded and operated by jazz saxophonist and composer Petter Wettre. The label emerged in 2002 during a period when Wettre was developing an increasingly self-directed recording career after establishing himself in Norway’s jazz scene through quartet, trio, and collaborative projects. Its catalogue is closely connected to Wettre’s artistic work, including studio albums, live recordings, solo performances, and projects with leading Norwegian and international jazz musicians. The label’s documented releases include Household Name, Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse, Tour De Force, Hallmark Moments, State of the Art, Paramount, Fountain of Youth, Appetite for Structure, Fountain of Youth Live!, The Only Way to Travel 2, The Social Media Tapes, and Playing Up to My Standards. These recordings show a focus on contemporary jazz, with formats ranging from saxophone-led quartet and trio performances to solo work, collaborations with other instrumentalists, and performances involving larger ensembles. Several projects feature musicians associated with Nordic and international improvised music, including David Liebman, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Jarle Vespestad, Anders Mogensen, Jonas Westergaard, Erlend Slettevoll, and members of the Norwegian jazz community. Household Records appears to function primarily as an artist-led imprint rather than a broad, mass-market label with a large roster. Its identity is therefore strongly tied to Wettre’s repertoire and production choices. The label has provided a home for material that might otherwise have been released through external jazz labels, including live and specialized projects. The use of the label for later Wettre releases also indicates continuity beyond its initial 2002 launch, although publicly available reference material does not establish its current corporate structure, distribution arrangements, catalogue size, or current operating status. The label’s significance is linked to Wettre’s position in Norwegian jazz. Wettre studied at Toneheim Folk High School and Berklee College of Music, returned to Norway in the early 1990s, and became active in Oslo’s jazz environment. He led the Petter Wettre Quartet and Trio, worked with musicians such as Dave Liebman, and participated in projects including Global House and larger Norwegian ensembles. His recordings The Only Way to Travel and Fountain of Youth received Spellemannprisen awards in the jazz category, giving the label’s principal artist a substantial profile within Norwegian music. Household Records should consequently be understood as a specialist jazz imprint centered on artist-controlled releases, rather than as a general entertainment or multinational record company.

Household Records was established in 2002 by Norwegian jazz musician and composer Petter Wettre. By the time he created the imprint, Wettre had already built a substantial career as a saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and collaborator. He had studied at Toneheim Folk High School and Berklee College of Music, returned to Norway in the early 1990s, and become active on the Oslo jazz circuit. His early work included the Petter Wettre Quartet, The Trio, and appearances with Norwegian ensembles and international projects. Wettre’s recording career before the label’s launch included releases on Curling Legs, Resonant, and Bergland. His 1996 debut Pig Virus introduced the Petter Wettre Quartet, while later recordings such as Meet the Locals, In Color, The Only Way to Travel, and The Mystery Unfolds documented his development as a leader and collaborator. Establishing Household Records gave him a dedicated imprint for subsequent projects and allowed later releases to remain closely associated with his own artistic direction. The first documented Household release is Household Name, issued in 2002. The album continued Wettre’s quartet-based approach and included several established Norwegian jazz musicians. It was followed by Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse in 2003, a trio recording that emphasized the label’s interest in documenting performance as well as studio work. In 2004, Household issued Tour De Force, a collaboration involving saxophonist David Liebman, and Hallmark Moments. These releases positioned the imprint around modern jazz, improvisation, and musician-led collaboration rather than commercial pop production. The catalogue expanded in 2006 with State of the Art, credited to Wettre’s quintet, and Paramount, a solo project. In 2007, the label released Fountain of Youth, one of Wettre’s best-known recordings. The album later received the Spellemannprisen in the jazz category, strengthening the profile of both the artist and his label. The label subsequently issued Appetite for Structure in 2008 and Fountain of Youth Live!, a live project performed with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Later documented releases include The Only Way to Travel 2 in 2011, The Social Media Tapes in 2012, and Playing Up to My Standards in 2014. The last of these involved Bjørn Vidar Solli, Erlend Slettevoll, Frode Berg, and Adam Pache, illustrating the continuing use of Household Records for collaborative contemporary jazz projects. The available reference material does not provide reliable information about a separate executive team, distribution company, financial performance, catalogue ownership, or the label’s status after the latest documented releases. Its publicly documented history is therefore best described as an artist-centered Norwegian jazz imprint founded and run by Petter Wettre.

• 2014

  Playing Up to My Standards is released

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  The documented catalogue expands with a collaboration featuring Bjørn Vidar Solli, Erlend Slettevoll, Frode Berg, and Adam Pache.

• 2011

  The Only Way to Travel 2 is released

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  The label continues its release programme with a follow-up to Wettre’s award-winning earlier project.

• 2008

  Release of Fountain of Youth Live!

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  Household Records issues a live version of the project performed with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

• 2007

  Fountain of Youth receives a Spellemannprisen

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  Fountain of Youth wins the Norwegian Spellemannprisen in the jazz category.

• 2006

  Quintet and solo formats added

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  State of the Art and the solo recording Paramount broaden the label’s documented musical formats.

• 2004

  Expansion into major collaborations

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  The label releases Tour De Force, involving David Liebman, alongside Hallmark Moments.

• 2003

  Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse is released

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  Household Records documents Wettre in a live trio setting with Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse.

• 2002

  Household Records is established

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  Petter Wettre begins operating Household Records as an independent label for his jazz recordings and related projects.

• 2002

  Release of Household Name

  [1]Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues Household Name, a Petter Wettre quartet recording and its earliest documented release.

Artist-led, specialist Norwegian jazz imprint focused on contemporary saxophone-led recordings, improvisation, live performance, and collaborations.

• Jazz album · 2002

  Household Name

  A 2002 Petter Wettre quartet album and the earliest documented release on Household Records. The project reflects the label’s initial focus on Wettre-led modern jazz in a small-group setting.

• Live jazz album · 2003

  Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse

  A 2003 live trio recording capturing Petter Wettre in performance with Anders Christensen and Anders Mogensen. It represents the label’s role in presenting live and improvisational work.

• Collaborative jazz album · 2004

  Tour De Force

  A 2004 Household release featuring David Liebman and a rhythm section connected to Wettre’s Norwegian collaborations. The album emphasizes the imprint’s international jazz connections.

• Jazz album · 2006

  State of the Art

  A 2006 recording credited to Wettre’s quintet. It extends the label’s catalogue beyond quartet and trio formats into a larger ensemble sound.

• Solo jazz album · 2006

  Paramount

  A 2006 solo project by Petter Wettre. Its inclusion in the catalogue demonstrates the label’s support for stripped-down and individually focused instrumental work.

• Jazz album · 2007

  Fountain of Youth

  A 2007 Household Records album that became one of Petter Wettre’s most prominent releases. It received the Spellemannprisen award in the jazz category and is a key title in the label’s documented catalogue.

• Live orchestral jazz album · 2008

  Fountain of Youth Live!

  A 2008 live expansion of the Fountain of Youth project performed with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, combining Wettre’s jazz writing and improvisational approach with a larger ensemble.

• Jazz recording · 2012

  The Social Media Tapes

  A 2012 Household Records release by Petter Wettre. The available reference material identifies the title and year but does not provide further details about its format or recording personnel.

• Collaborative jazz album · 2014

  Playing Up to My Standards

  A 2014 release featuring Wettre with Bjørn Vidar Solli, Erlend Slettevoll, Frode Berg, and Adam Pache. It continues the imprint’s emphasis on contemporary small-group jazz and musician-led collaboration.

1. 1Petter Wettreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Household Recordsen.wikipedia.org