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Jack Noren

Jazz drummer and vocalist born in America but best known for his work in Sweden (October 19, 1929, Chicago - March 17, 1990, Chicago). He played with Gene Ammons and others in the middle of the 1940s before moving with his family to Sweden in 1946. In Sweden he eventually spent time touring and/or recording with Thore Jederby (1948-50), Seymour Österwall (1949), Arne Domnérus & Rolf Ericson (1950-52), and Lars Gullin (1951-53). He played with Swedish musicians and ensembles such as Reinhold Svensson (1949), Gösta Törner (1949), Swede Starband (1950), Expressens Elitorkester (1950, 1952), Leonard Feather's Swinging Swedes (1951) Bengt Hallberg (1952), Putte Wickman (1952), Åke Persson, and the Scandia All Stars (1953). Noren's reputation in Sweden was such that he was frequently called upon by visiting American musicians, such as James Moody (1949, 1951), Charlie Parker (1950), Zoot Sims (1950), Stan Getz (1951), Lee Konitz (1951), Clifford Brown (1953), and George Wallington (1953). In 1954 Noren returned to Chicago, playing with Eddie Higgins (1958) and Marty Rubenstein (1959-60). In 1960 he went once more to Sweden, playing with Monica Zetterlund (1960) and Nisse Sandström; he also recorded with the radio band of Harry Arnold. After moving back to the United States a few years later, his career dips into obscurity.