Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (IPA: [nils'hɛneŋ 'ɶɐ̥sd̥əð̥ 'pʰɛð̥ɐ̥sn], May 27, 1946 – April 19, 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (IPA: [nils'hɛneŋ 'ɶɐ̥sd̥əð̥ 'pʰɛð̥ɐ̥sn], May 27, 1946 – April 19, 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro. The "great Dane with the never-ending name", Pedersen was known simply as NHØP among many jazz fans. He was born in Osted near Roskilde, on the Danish island of Zealand.

As a child, Pedersen played piano. As a teenager, he started learning to play contrabass and at the age of 14, he began his professional jazz career in Denmark with his first band, Jazzkvintet 60, while studying. At 17 he turned down an offer to join the Count Basie orchestra.