Uncle Kjell , Loved Jazz ,liked to read alot and very knowledgeable of religion. You will never be forgotten yet you will always be missed . Love your sense of humour ,always had a good laugh when we saw each other . Thank you for the recording of your music we play it and love it and when my daughter Courtney heard it back in grade 11 she changes her music classes to Jazz classes and played the trumpet. I still eat my big bowl of shreddies big guy . Rest In peace our hearts and condolences are with Carole, Tyrone and family .

Rest In Peace my brother Kjell. You are not suffering anymore. Our family had our ups and downs but we all survived You are now with mom and dad and our sister Grethe. Have always loved you all of your life

I first met Kjell in December 1970 when we played together for the first time with Calgary pianist Norm Wood and vocalist Marie McPhee (with me on bass) at the Inn on Lake Bonavista. With Norm and Marie, we played the Chateau Lacombe in Edmonton, The Saskatchewan Hotel in Regina and several other great gigs over the years. We played with pianist Nate Strong at the Vagabond Motor Inn in Regina…just too many to mention here now. In the years that followed, Kjell and I played together often with Bill Emes, Bob Tildesley, Ian Sadler — to mention a few. Kjell was an incredible drummer. He played with the best musicians in the jazz world who came to Calgary and Edmonton (most notably Woody Shaw ) through the efforts of Marc Vasey, who founded the Edmonton Jazz Society.. I was honored to be his friend and musical colleague. I lost touch with Kjell when I moved to Vancouver in ’79 and later to the United States in ’90. For decades, I thought of him many times. But it was not until last August 2021 that I finally touched base with him on the phone and via email and text. I am so fortunate that I got to connect with him when I did. It was divine Providence. I miss you my friend. God bless your spirit. I hope to see you again on the other side.

My heartfelt condolences to Carole and Tyron.

Rob Cook (formerly Marson)

Port Saint Lucie, FL

U.S.A.

It's been a month since the passing of my very special friend Kjell. I think upon the laughter and moments in my living room ( he was my neighbor as well as my friend). I don't remember when I came aware of his musicianship but he hung around with my older brothers and as they grew up and moved Kjell continued to hang around with me. As I began to develop an interest in modern jazz and build up my music collection Kjell had these old scratched worn out jazz albums that he decided I should have. It saved me years of research and it helped steer me in the right direction to understand the music he held such a passion for. He told me that growing up in Norway the trains would go by and he would be marking the time of the wheels on the tracks. One day as I was waking up groggy he dropped on a record and within minutes he was telling me-see you just need a little jazz to freshen your mood. Kjell was Bowness's original beatnik and all star jazz musician. Our friendship is deep and your energy will live on eternally in my mind and heart. Thanks for the tunes, the photos, and your eternal wisdom and laughter. Love you muchly my brother may you walk to the beat of your own drummer as you always have. Daniel P Graham

My first memory of Kjell was when he played drums on Mel Shaw's "Mean Lover" in 1958/9 - Mel Shaw was The Stampeders manager for many years. In the early 1960's I also played in a band with Kjell, Eddy Dolan, and Barry Pettit. His style, and expertise on percussion was unsurpassed, and the Calgary music scene won't be the same. We shall miss you my old band-mate. rest peacefully....

I am so very sorry to about Kjell. I was fortunate enough to have done some gigs with Kjell in the 80s, and his kindness and utter dedication to whatever music he was playing impressed me greatly and was a reassuring influence on me as a young bass player.

My thoughts are with you.

Stephen Anderson

Kjell and I shared a close kinship for years. Our mutual love of music, photography and verbiage was a rare connection. I will never forget our Satie jams my friend. My deepest condolences to Carole, Tyron and everyone who knew and loved my eccentric viking Bownesian buddy.

Shelly and I played together a lot over the years. He gave me a Good News Bible in 1983 and I still refer to that Bible every day. John Reid.

Dear Carole,

I recently re-read the letters that I received from you and Kjell. I phoned a couple of times February to talk to both of you. However, I understand that kjell's health had not been good. john Gray told me that you had moved from your house in Bowness to a condo. I just wish that I had kept up my correspondence with both of you. Kjellwas a special person and an outstanding jazz drummer. My sincere sympathies.

Gilda Valli in Edmonton.

Thank you Kjell for having been here, for making me laugh, for sharing your drumming voice with us all.

My most vivid memory of Kjell comes from when I first met him, he was visiting us (Glenn Sherret) at the old brick house and a serious winter storm inside. Snowed in with a hungry Kjell... when he realized he was stuck with us, he went to the fridge. Love.

Karen Christensen

Kjell was one of the most talented and respected drummers I ever had the pleasure to work with. Kjelly worked with Marie McPhee and our group on and off over a period of probably close to twenty years. The A-list circuit at the time. CP Hotels, Chateau Lacombe, Edmonton, Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina, Palliser Hotel, Calgary. Glencoe Club, Calgary. He was such a great guy to work with, on and off stage. I hadn't spoke to Kjell in probably thirty years, but when I lost Marie a year and a half ago, one of the first calls I got was from Kjell. A warm, kind human being with an unbelievable talent. Rest easy, old friend. Norm Woodhouse

This man was my friend and my neighbor and though I moved far away we still communicated by email-- send me a picture was his constant request!! He had all these old worn out jazz records that he passed to me and it instilled a deep love of jazz that we both carried ardently! The crazy sense of humour and the hours of laughter we shared will always carry me through the dark moments life has to offer! The last major gig I saw you play was Carter Jefferson and Jack Walrath and our mutual friend Brian Buchanan ( who has also passed) summed up your great performance that night----what a great drummer, you can't deny it after hearing that!! Love you my brother, Tempus Fuget!!!