Tord Gustavsen

Tord Gustavsen
Background information
Born 5 October 1970
Oslo
Origin Norway
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, bandleader
Instruments Piano
Years active Solo
Tord Gustavsen Trio (2003-2008)
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble (2008-2009)
Tord Gustavsen Quartet (2010-present)
Labels ECM Records
Associated acts Siri Gjære
Silje Nergaard
Kåre Nymark
Website tordg.no/index_2.html

Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970 in Oslo, Norway) is a major jazz pianist and composer, raised in rural Hurdal, Akershus.[1] Gustavsen tours extensively world-wide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times all bearing his name.

Career

Gustavsen holds a Bachelor's degree (mellomfag) in psychology at the University of Oslo, before he attended the Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium[2] for a three years study of jazz (1993–96). Thereafter he became a graduate (Cand.philol.) of musicology at the University of Oslo, where he was guest teacher of jazz piano and theory (1998-2002).[3]

Formations

Tord Gustavsen Trio
Tord Gustavsen Trio

The Tord Gustavsen Trio was made up of Gustavsen on piano, Harald Johnsen on double bass and Jarle Vespestad on drums. They released three studio albums on ECM Records. The trio won the Nattjazz prize in 2005.

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

He followed them with an ensemble starting 2008. It was formed during Vossajazz that year and was composed of Tord Gustavsen (piano), Tore Brunborg (saxophone), Mats Eilertsen (bass) and Jarle Vespestad (drums). It released one studio album, called Restored, Returned - an album which was awarded with Spellemannsprisen (the Norwegian Grammy).[4][5]

Tord Gustavsen Quartet

Gustavsen formed a new quartet with Tore Brunborg on saxophone, Mats Eilertsen on double bass, and Jarle Vespestad on drums. The highly praised album The Well was released in 2012.[4][6][7] followed by a new album in 2014.

Other collaborations and interests

In addition, he has recorded as a session musician, and guested on friends' albums. Collaborative projects have included Norwegian jazz vocalist and songwriter Silje Nergaard, musician Carl Petter Opsahl, singer Kristin Asbjørnsen, actress Cecilie Jørstad and drummer Rune Arnesen, duo aire & angels and jazz vocalist Siri Gjære. He also took part in Nymark Collective established by Kåre Nymark.

Gustavsen continues to be highly interested in psychology and has written a lengthy thesis on the paradoxes of improvisation drawing on the dialectical psychological theory of Helm Stierlin and Anne-Lise Løvlie Schibbye.[8]

Honors

Discography

Albums

Year Formation
credited
Album Peak positions
NOR
[9]
FR
[10]
GER
2003 Tord Gustavsen Trio Changing Places 32    
2005 The Ground 1 141  
2007 Being There 3 144  
2009 Tord Gustavsen Ensemble Restored, Returned 15    
2012 Tord Gustavsen Quartet The Well 4 194 100
2014 Extended Circle 24 103  

Collaborations

aire & angels duo with Siri Gjære
Nymark Collective
Silje Nergaard
SKRUK
Carl Petter Opsahl
Other Projects

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tord Gustavsen.

External links

Awards
Preceded by
First award in 2005
Recipient of the Nattjazzprisen
2005
Succeeded by
Kjetil Møster
Preceded by
Helge Lien Trio
Recipient of the Jazz Spellemannprisen
2009
Succeeded by
Elephant9