Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively world-wide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name.
Gustavsen holds a Bachelor's degree (mellomfag) in psychology at the University of Oslo, before he attended the Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium 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).
Formations
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.
He followed them with an ensemble starting 2008. It was formed during Vossajazz that year and was composed of Gustavsen, Tore Brunborg (saxophone), Mats Eilertsen (bass) and Jarle Vespestad (drums). It released one studio album, Restored, Returned, which was awarded with Spellemannsprisen (the Norwegian Grammy).
Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen reaches hidden depths with a repertory including original interpretations of ancient hymns from his home country. ‘Hypnotically strong’ (The Guardian).
For his new album The Other Side on ECM Records, Tord Gustavsen adapted Norwegian hymns as well as Bach chorals. These beautiful ancient melodies are featured alongside his original compositions, that have been described as wordless songs or abstract gospel. The Other Side is the first recording by his new trio, as a sequel to the successful trilogy of trio albums that appeared on ECM from 2003-2007.
Pianist Tord Gustavsen is a household name in Norwegian jazz. He formed various ensembles and collaborated with remarkable vocalists such as Silje Nergaard and Simin Tander. Gustavsen incorporates variou...
published: 17 Jul 2019
Live In Studio: Tord Gustavsen Trio
Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen leads a trio – including bass and drums - that draws on classical music, church hymns, and jazz – and may sound something like 'Nordic Blues.' His new album is called The Other Side, and Tord Gustavsen Trio plays new tunes from it, in-studio.
published: 25 Sep 2018
Tord Gustavsen Trio 2022 promo video
Tord Gustavsen - piano / electronics
Steinar Raknes - bass / electronics
Jarle Vespestad - drums
Promo video for the release of 'Opening' (ECM Records) 2022
published: 08 Apr 2022
Stream
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Stream · Tord Gustavsen Trio
Stream
℗ 2022 ECM Records GmbH, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Released on: 2022-03-11
Associated Performer, Piano, Programming: Tord Gustavsen
Associated Performer, Double Bass, Programming: Steinar Raknes
Associated Performer, Drums: Jarle Vespestad
Producer: Manfred Eicher
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Mixer, Mastering Engineer: Stefano Amerio
Composer: Tord Gustavsen
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 10 Mar 2022
Tord Gustavsen - Came So Far For Beauty / Tears Transforming (Live on BBC Radio 3)
Solo piano improvisation with electronics. Opens with haunting Leonard Cohen cover. For more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08vy6j4
published: 21 Jun 2017
Tord Gustavsen Quartet - Right There
Extended Circle
published: 03 May 2018
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble: Being There
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Tord Gustavsen / Mats Eilertsen / Jarle Vespestad. Music by Tord Gustavsen. Live from Kulturkirken Jakob, October 2009. www.tordgustavsen.com
Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen reaches hidden depths with a repertory including original interpretations of ancient hymns from his home country. ‘Hypnoti...
Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen reaches hidden depths with a repertory including original interpretations of ancient hymns from his home country. ‘Hypnotically strong’ (The Guardian).
For his new album The Other Side on ECM Records, Tord Gustavsen adapted Norwegian hymns as well as Bach chorals. These beautiful ancient melodies are featured alongside his original compositions, that have been described as wordless songs or abstract gospel. The Other Side is the first recording by his new trio, as a sequel to the successful trilogy of trio albums that appeared on ECM from 2003-2007.
Pianist Tord Gustavsen is a household name in Norwegian jazz. He formed various ensembles and collaborated with remarkable vocalists such as Silje Nergaard and Simin Tander. Gustavsen incorporates various styles in his music, from jazz and funk to folk, developing his own style. ‘The Other Side finds contrast, as well as communion, between seemingly opposed traditions. The trio’s ability to capture doubt, joy and anxiety with a few notes is breathtaking’ (Downbeat).
Tord Gustavsen piano, Sigurd Hole bas, Jarle Vespestad drums
BIMHUIS | Februari 22nd 2019
Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen reaches hidden depths with a repertory including original interpretations of ancient hymns from his home country. ‘Hypnotically strong’ (The Guardian).
For his new album The Other Side on ECM Records, Tord Gustavsen adapted Norwegian hymns as well as Bach chorals. These beautiful ancient melodies are featured alongside his original compositions, that have been described as wordless songs or abstract gospel. The Other Side is the first recording by his new trio, as a sequel to the successful trilogy of trio albums that appeared on ECM from 2003-2007.
Pianist Tord Gustavsen is a household name in Norwegian jazz. He formed various ensembles and collaborated with remarkable vocalists such as Silje Nergaard and Simin Tander. Gustavsen incorporates various styles in his music, from jazz and funk to folk, developing his own style. ‘The Other Side finds contrast, as well as communion, between seemingly opposed traditions. The trio’s ability to capture doubt, joy and anxiety with a few notes is breathtaking’ (Downbeat).
Tord Gustavsen piano, Sigurd Hole bas, Jarle Vespestad drums
BIMHUIS | Februari 22nd 2019
Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen leads a trio – including bass and drums - that draws on classical music, church hymns, and jazz – and may sound something like ...
Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen leads a trio – including bass and drums - that draws on classical music, church hymns, and jazz – and may sound something like 'Nordic Blues.' His new album is called The Other Side, and Tord Gustavsen Trio plays new tunes from it, in-studio.
Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen leads a trio – including bass and drums - that draws on classical music, church hymns, and jazz – and may sound something like 'Nordic Blues.' His new album is called The Other Side, and Tord Gustavsen Trio plays new tunes from it, in-studio.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Stream · Tord Gustavsen Trio
Stream
℗ 2022 ECM Records GmbH, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH...
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Stream · Tord Gustavsen Trio
Stream
℗ 2022 ECM Records GmbH, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Released on: 2022-03-11
Associated Performer, Piano, Programming: Tord Gustavsen
Associated Performer, Double Bass, Programming: Steinar Raknes
Associated Performer, Drums: Jarle Vespestad
Producer: Manfred Eicher
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Mixer, Mastering Engineer: Stefano Amerio
Composer: Tord Gustavsen
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Stream · Tord Gustavsen Trio
Stream
℗ 2022 ECM Records GmbH, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Released on: 2022-03-11
Associated Performer, Piano, Programming: Tord Gustavsen
Associated Performer, Double Bass, Programming: Steinar Raknes
Associated Performer, Drums: Jarle Vespestad
Producer: Manfred Eicher
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Mixer, Mastering Engineer: Stefano Amerio
Composer: Tord Gustavsen
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Tord Gustavsen / Mats Eilertsen / Jarle Vespestad. Music by Tord Gustavsen. Live from Kulturkirken Jakob, October 2009. www.tordgustav...
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Tord Gustavsen / Mats Eilertsen / Jarle Vespestad. Music by Tord Gustavsen. Live from Kulturkirken Jakob, October 2009. www.tordgustavsen.com
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Tord Gustavsen / Mats Eilertsen / Jarle Vespestad. Music by Tord Gustavsen. Live from Kulturkirken Jakob, October 2009. www.tordgustavsen.com
Norwegian jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen reaches hidden depths with a repertory including original interpretations of ancient hymns from his home country. ‘Hypnotically strong’ (The Guardian).
For his new album The Other Side on ECM Records, Tord Gustavsen adapted Norwegian hymns as well as Bach chorals. These beautiful ancient melodies are featured alongside his original compositions, that have been described as wordless songs or abstract gospel. The Other Side is the first recording by his new trio, as a sequel to the successful trilogy of trio albums that appeared on ECM from 2003-2007.
Pianist Tord Gustavsen is a household name in Norwegian jazz. He formed various ensembles and collaborated with remarkable vocalists such as Silje Nergaard and Simin Tander. Gustavsen incorporates various styles in his music, from jazz and funk to folk, developing his own style. ‘The Other Side finds contrast, as well as communion, between seemingly opposed traditions. The trio’s ability to capture doubt, joy and anxiety with a few notes is breathtaking’ (Downbeat).
Tord Gustavsen piano, Sigurd Hole bas, Jarle Vespestad drums
BIMHUIS | Februari 22nd 2019
Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen leads a trio – including bass and drums - that draws on classical music, church hymns, and jazz – and may sound something like 'Nordic Blues.' His new album is called The Other Side, and Tord Gustavsen Trio plays new tunes from it, in-studio.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Stream · Tord Gustavsen Trio
Stream
℗ 2022 ECM Records GmbH, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin
Released on: 2022-03-11
Associated Performer, Piano, Programming: Tord Gustavsen
Associated Performer, Double Bass, Programming: Steinar Raknes
Associated Performer, Drums: Jarle Vespestad
Producer: Manfred Eicher
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Mixer, Mastering Engineer: Stefano Amerio
Composer: Tord Gustavsen
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble - Tord Gustavsen / Mats Eilertsen / Jarle Vespestad. Music by Tord Gustavsen. Live from Kulturkirken Jakob, October 2009. www.tordgustavsen.com
Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively world-wide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name.
Gustavsen holds a Bachelor's degree (mellomfag) in psychology at the University of Oslo, before he attended the Trondheim Musikkonsevatorium 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).
Formations
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.
He followed them with an ensemble starting 2008. It was formed during Vossajazz that year and was composed of Gustavsen, Tore Brunborg (saxophone), Mats Eilertsen (bass) and Jarle Vespestad (drums). It released one studio album, Restored, Returned, which was awarded with Spellemannsprisen (the Norwegian Grammy).
I dim all the lights and I sink in my chair. The smoke from my cigarette climbs through the air. The walls of my room fade away in the blue, And I'm deep in a dream of you. The smoke makes a stairway for you to descend; You come to my arms, may this bliss never end, For we love anew just as we used to do When I'm deep in a dream of you. Then from the ceiling, sweet music comes stealing; We glide through a lover's refrain, you're so appealing That I'm soon revealing my love for you over again. My cigarette burns me, I wake with a start; My hand isn't hurt, but there's pain in my heart. Awake or asleep, ev'ry mem'ry I'll keep