Halle participated in various small bands at the Oslo Jazz scene in the late 1970s, when he studied music at the
University of Oslo 1981–86, he was with the band
Cutting Edge, and from 1987 in a quartet with
John Eberson (guitar),
Bjørn Kjellemyr (bass), and
Finn Sletten/
Pål Thowsen (drums). He has also played with the big band
Oslo 13, with
Knut Værnes Band,
Jon Balke,
Søyr,
Chipahua and
Geir Holmsen Band. He has been in the lineups of
Jazzpunkensemblet,
Desafinado,
Horns for Hire with
Torbjørn Sunde and
Jens Petter Antonsen,
Jon Balke's
Magnetic North Orchestra,
Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble,
Søyr and
Metropolitan (band). He has also appeared on releases by
Helge Iberg (1997),
Jan Magne Førde (1998),
Jan Eggum (1999),
Marianne Antonsen (2000) og
Jørun Bøgeberg (2006). Halle has written music for film, theater and ballet, as well as commissioned work only short stay Dølajazz Festival 1992, and composed music to the lyrics of
Jesper Halle, performed by
Jonas Fjeld and
Sidsel Endresen (1988). He is a prominent figure in modern Norwegian jazz. His album releases include
Alle tre (1995, compilation album Cutting Edge),
2 (1991) and
The Eagle' (1995), with Halle/Eberson Quartett. Lately he leads his own trio with
Anders Jormin and
Svante Henryson, and the
Morten Halle Qvartet with
Edvard Askeland,
Torstein Lofthus and
André Peterson/
Vigleik Storaas. Halle is a partner in the label "Curling Legs" (1992–), is attached as associate professor at
Norges Musikkhøgskole in
Oslo, and former Chairman of
TONO. == Discography (selection) ==