Masqualero was a jazz group founded in Oslo, Norway in 1983. The band was composed of members Arild Anderson (double bass), Jon Christensen (drums), Tore Brunborg (saxophone), Jon Balke (keyboards), and Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet). Initially known as the Arild Anderson Quintet, the group changed their name to Masqualero by the time they signed with Odin Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1983. The album won a Spellemannprisen, Norway’s equivalent of a Grammy Award, and the band was embraced by an international audience. Masqualero signed with ECM Records and issued their Spellmannprisen-winning second album, Bande a Part, in 1986. Keyboardist Balke left the group and was replaced by guitarist Frode Alnæs before the band recorded their 1988 album Aero. By the time they released their fourth and final album Re-Enter (1990), Frode Alnæs had departed the group and the remaining members recorded as a quartet. The album was another Spellemannprisen winner, but the group split up and each member pursued other musical interests. Jon Christensen died on February 18, 2020.
