Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen is one of europe's leading jazz pianists. His music continues to evolve, teasing out beautiful melodies and subtle rhythmic movements from a gentle and profound sonic space.
Tord has released nine critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records with his trio and extended ensemble.
Tord is on a constant search for a fresh and radically stripped-down honest beauty in music. His trio works to explore, integrate and serve a holy trinity of emotional intensity, elegance, and mediative musical breathing.
Before starting his solo career, Tord had already been an important part of the Norwegian jazz scene for several years. His playing has formed a cornerstone in projects featuring some of the finest Norwegian singers and he has contributed to around 30 releases with other main artists, including Solveig SleIahjell, Silje Nergaard and Kristin Asbjørnsen.
The urge for individuality fuses with acutely attentive listening in creative interplay, making Tord a very special experience both as a soloist and as an ensemble player. His way of conversing jazz history with 'Nordic' reflective moods and lyrical beauty brings about an intriguing voice on today's music scene.
Tord Gustavsen tours world-wide with his ensemble in various formats, playing at major festivals and concert halls in Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Japan, Korea, and the Scandinavian countries.
He has received numerous awards including the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen), CHOC critical awards (France), Bell Award for best international Jazz Album (Australia), Recording of the Month in Stereophile Magazine (USA), Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German), as well as NOPAs Musikkpris for best Norwegian jazz composition in 2010.
He has had commissioned works for Vossajazz, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Oslo Jazz Festival, Oslo International Church Music Festival, and Nidaros Domkor.
".. a delicious collage of hypnotic grooving, softly stroked gospel themes." (The Guardian, UK)
"every note is perfectly placed" (The Times, UK)
“the trio reconfigure the church music of Gustavsen’s youth into new abstract forms.”
(Evening Standard)
“a trilogy [that] could be the most essential jazz document of the last ten year. Sublime.” (The Independent, UK)
"a stunningly beautiful recording. .. draws the listener in so completely – making us consider each note, each small gesture in its ethereal, shimmering whole…nothing less than magical." (Downbeat, USA - 4 1/2 of 5 stars)
