Tord Gustavsen | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | (1970-10-05)5 October 1970 (age 55) Oslo, Norway |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Musician, composer, bandleader |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | ECM |
| Website | tordg |
Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a Norwegianjazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively worldwide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name.
Gustavsen was born on 5 October 1970[1] inOslo and raised in ruralHurdal,Akershus.[2] He "grew up playing church music".[3]
Gustavsen holds a bachelor's degree (mellomfag) in psychology at theUniversity of Oslo, before he attended theTrondheim Musikkonsevatorium[4] for a three years study of jazz (1993–96). Thereafter he became a graduate (Cand.philol.) ofmusicology at the University of Oslo, where he was guest teacher of jazz piano and theory (1998–2002).[5]
Between 2003 and 2007 The Tord Gustavsen Trio released three albums onECM Records.[3] The trio was made up of Gustavsen on piano,Harald Johnsen on double bass andJarle Vespestad on drums. The albums "contained rapt, pristine, meditative music, which resonated with the inner needs of a large, discriminating audience": combined sales exceeded 100,000.[3] The trio won theNattjazz prize in 2005.
A later ensemble was composed of Gustavsen,Tore Brunborg (saxophones),Mats Eilertsen (bass) and Vespestad (drums).[3] With vocalistKristin Asbjørnsen added for some tracks, the albumRestored, Returned was recorded in 2009.[6] The album was awarded withSpellemannsprisen (the Norwegian Grammy).[7][8] The quartet's follow-up,The Well, was released in 2012.[7] That year, Gustavsen played over four days at theMontreal Jazz Festival: with the quartet, as a solo pianist and in a duo with vocalist Solveig Slettahjell.[9] The quartet albumExtended Circle two years later "reveals a new edginess and dynamic impact that the quartet brings to Gustavsen's music."[3]
In addition, he has recorded as asession musician, and guested on friends' albums. Collaborative projects have included Norwegian jazz vocalist and songwriterSilje Nergaard, musician Carl Petter Opsahl, actress Cecilie Jørstad and drummer Rune Arnesen, duo aire & angels and jazz vocalistSiri Gjære. He also took part inNymark Collective established byKåre Nymark. Since 2014 Gustavsen has collaborated with the German-Afghan jazz singerSimin Tander, releasing the albumWhat Was Said (2016). They also performed at the 2016 Vinterjazz and the 2016Vossajazz in Norway.
Gustavsen continues to be highly interested in psychology and has written a lengthy thesis on the paradoxes of improvisation, drawing on thedialectical psychological theory ofHelm Stierlin andAnne-Lise Løvlie Schibbye.[10]
| Year | Formation credited | Album | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [11] | FRA [12] | 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 | – | |
| 2016 | Tord Gustavsen with Simin Tander and Jarle Vespestad | What Was Said | 31[13] | – | 72 |
| 2018 | Tord Gustavsen Trio | The Other Side | 40 [14] | – | 58 |
| 2022 | Opening | – | – | – | |
| 2024 | Seeing | – | – | – | |
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by First award in 2005 | Recipient of theNattjazzprisen 2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Recipient of the JazzSpellemannprisen 2009 | Succeeded by |
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