Espen Berg (musician)

Espen Berg
Born 30 June 1983
Hamar, Hedmark
Origin Norway
Genres Jazz, classical & improvised music
Occupation(s) Pianist, arranger & composer
Instruments Piano
Labels «Atterklang»
Associated acts «Listen» & Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
Website Official website

Espen Berg (born 30 June 1983 in Hamar, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer now living in Trondheim, known for his collaborated with musicians such as trumpeter Per Jørgensen, saxophonist Marius Neset and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.[1][2]

Career

Berg picked up playing the piano at a very young age, and only 7 year old he was featured on national TV with self-composed music. He began studying the jazz tradition at the age of 16, and he earned his Master’s degree in Performing music from the acknowledged Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium in 2008.[3] At the time he started the trio Listen!, together with Bendik Giske (saxophone) and Daniel Herskedal (tuba).[4]

Berg started working as a professional musician in 2003, and toured with his own trio «Listen» in Scandinavia, Spain, Syria, Cuba, Belgium, France and Hungary. He has currently released three albums with his own bands, and also plays within the jazz band «Green Serene», Kåre Kolve Quartet and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and together with the upcoming star saxophonist Marius Neset performing the Commissioned work at Moldejazz in 2012. In 2007 he won the prize for best soloist at Hoeilaart Int’l Jazz Competition in Belgium, and in the summer of 2013 Berg was one of eight Semi-finalists in the Solo Piano Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival.[5] His first solo piano album, Noctilucent (2012), was named one of the ten best releases of 2012 by All About Jazz,[1] and is planning for a second solo album in November 2013.

Berg has also written music for the «Spellemannprisen» nominated «Trondheim Soloists», «Cikada String Quartet» and «Quintus», and has been lecturing at the Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium and at Trøndertun folkehøgskole since 2005.[6]

Honors

Discography

Solo albums

Solo piano
Within «Listen»

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hareuveni, Eyal (2012-12-28). "Espen Berg: Noctilucent (2012) - Track Review". Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  2. ↑ Hammerø, Tor (2012-11-27). "Ny topp-pianist". Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  3. ↑ "Jazzlinja". NTNU.no. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wicklund, Erling (2007-03-02). "Listen! - Listen" (in Norwegian). NRK Jazz. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Espen Berg Biography". Montreux Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  6. ↑ "Espen Berg Biography". Trondertun.no. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  7. ↑ "Listen". ListenTrio.net. Retrieved 2013-08-13.

External links