Kjellman led his own revue orchestra in Tromsø (1955 and 56), was member of the «Swinging Quartet» (1956–57), Sverre Lund Quartet (1958–59), performed saxophone and wrote arrangements for the local jazz club orchestra (1958–59). In 1959 he moved to Oslo and joined the Oslo jazz scene, first with
Kjell Karlsen (1959), then with
Ditlef Eckhoff (at the first
Moldejazz in
1961). Kjellman also contributed to film music on
Line (film) (1961) including with
Atle Hammer,
Frode Thingnæs,
Mikkel Flagstad, Eilif Holm,
Einar Iversen,
Erik Amundsen and
Egil Johansen. In the 60's and 70's he contributed to the Club 7 environment, contributing to releases with Arild Wikstrøm, as well as the blues band Sapphires. He moved to Molde in 1975 and played on the album
Østerdalsmusikk, then he moved on to Bodø where he collaborated with
Kjell Bartholsen (1976). After his return to Oslo he joined
Ola Calmeyer (1977–79) among others. He has also contributed to albums by
Søyr (2000), as well as a track with
Ola Calmeyer on Nordnorsk jazzforums collection album
Distant Reports (
Gemini Records, 2001). He led his own
The Alf Kjellman Project with the album ''You'll always need friends'' (
Gemini Records, 1998), where Kjellman's compositions were performed with the band
Frode Nymo saxophone,
Harald Johnsen upright bass, Inge Stangvik vocals,
Jørn Øien piano, Kevin Dean and
Ole Jacob Hansen drums. His role was as composer, conductor and band leader. Until 2006, he had not yet performed his saxophones on a single solo album until his colleague and friend, the trombonist
Øystein B. Blix started the label Reflect to release the album
June 1999, which was radio recording with Kjellman, taken by NRK during the 1999
Festspillene i Nord-Norge. This also marked Kjellman's 70th birthday celebration. According to journalist
Bjørn Hansen he : «
... has been called the musician of the jazz musicians. Alf Erling Kjellman belong to the legends of Norwegian jazz, an instrumentalist, composer and organizer known by all contemporary performers, but almost unknown to the big audience» For the 2011
Nordlysfestivalen Henning Gravrok composed
Fire variasjoner over Alf Kjellmans gode råd, performed by Nordnorsk Storband featuring Tomasz Stanko. == References ==