Christian Wallumrød

Christian Wallumrød (born 26 April 1971 in Kongsberg, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (piano, organ and electronic keyboards) and composer, and is considered one of the most prominent musicians of the younger Norwegian generation, known from releases with his own Christian Wallumrød Ensemble on the German label ECM Records, while regularly touring and appearing in festivals in Norway, elsewhere in Scandinavia and Europe, and in the US. He is the brother of jazz vocalist Susanna Wallumrød and the drummer Fredrik Wallumrød, and cousin to the pianist David Wallumrød.[1]

Christian Wallumrød
Wallumrød performing in 2018
Background information
Born (1971-04-26) 26 April 1971
Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsPiano, organ, electronic keyboards
LabelsECM Records
Websitechristianwallumrod.com

Career

Wallumrød was educated on the Jazz Program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium,[2] where he cooperated with the bands Airamero, Nutrio together with Eldbjørg Raknes and Arve Henriksen, as well as in a trio with drummer Espen Rud and bassist Johannes Eick, among others. After moving to Oslo he has played in a quartet with Petter Wettre, composed the commissioned work Eight Thirty for Kongsberg Jazz Festival with Ståle Storløkken (1994), and operated the trio Close Erase with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums), with four releases. He has also contributed on recordings within a wide range of musical expressions, like Odd Børretzen & Lars Martin Myhre (Noen ganger er det all right, 1995), Jon Eberson's Jazzpunkensemblet (Thirteen Rounds, 1997), Jacob Young (Glow, 1999), with Arve Henriksen, Jan Bang and Erik Honoré (Birth wish, 2000), and last but not the leased Audun Kleive's Generator X (Generator X, 2000)[1][3]

Wallumrød has continued the cooperation with Henriksen, in a trio with Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen with the albums No birch (1997) and Birth wish (2001), and in his own Christian Wallumrød Ensemble with Per Oddvar Johansen (trommer) releasing Sofienberg variations (2003) and A year from easter (2005), all on the German label ECM.[1][3][4]

In the autumn 2006 he toured with his own Christian Wallumrød Sextet, consisting of the personnel from his Christian Wallumrød Ensamble reinforced with string trio Tanja Orning (cello), Gjermund Larsen (violin) and Giovanna Pessi (harp). Other prominent partnership include Ketil Gutvik, Sidsel Endresen and Jan Bang, resulting in a series of album releases.[3] On his latest albums Fabula Suite Lugano (2009) and Outstairs (2013) with Christian Wallumrød Ensamble, he leads a virtuoso ensemble at low speed. It is a beautiful but unsettling experience. We get a mixture of catchy songs with recognizable melodies and simple harmonies, combined with idea-based compositions where the musicians' improvising abilities are expressed.[5]

John Kellman of the All About Jazz magazine recognized Christian Wallumrød Ensemble's appearance at TD Ottawa Jazz Festival June 2013, as no. 8 of his "Best Live Shows of 2013".[6]

Honors

Discography

Solo albums

As Band Leader
With Christian Wallumrød Trio
  • 1998: No Birch (ECM)
With Christian Wallumrød Ensemble
  • 2001: Sofienberg Variations (ECM)
  • 2004: A Year From Easter (ECM)
  • 2007: The Zoo Is Far (ECM)
  • 2009: Fabula Suite Lugano (ECM)
  • 2013: Outstairs (ECM)[5][9]
  • 2016: Kurzsam And Fulger (Hubro Music)[10]

Collaborations
With Close Erase
  • 1996: Close Erase (NorCD)
  • 1999: No. 2 (NorCD)
  • 2001: Dance This (Blå Production)
  • 2006: Sport Rocks (Jazzaway)
With Audun Kleives Generator X
  • 2000: Generator X (Jazzland)
  • 2004: Ohmagoddabl (Jazzland)
  • 2012: Attack (POLselection)
With Karl Seglem
  • 2004: Nye Nord (NorCD)
  • 2004: New North (NorCD)
With others

References
  1. "Wallumrød, Christian Biography" (in Norwegian). Norsk musikkinformasjon MIC.no. 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  2. "Jazzlinja" (in Norwegian). NTNU.no. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  3. "Christian Wallumrød Biography" (in Norwegian). Cosmopolite.no. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  4. Fordham, John (2011-10-24). "Christian Wallumrød Ensemble – review". London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  5. Furu, Svein Magnus (2013-06-20). "Mørke undertoner" (in Norwegian). Morgenbladet. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  6. Kelman, John (2013-12-13). "John Kelman's Best Live Shows of 2013". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  7. Tofte, Ingvild Kjær (2001-07-09). "Jazzpris til Wallumrød" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  8. Fordham, John (2015-02-12). "Christian Wallumrod: Pianokammer CD review – Norwegian pianist's surprising solo debut". Musical reviews. The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  9. Mosnes, Terje (2013-07-24). "Unikt ensemblebrygg" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  10. "Christian Wallumrød Ensemble: Kurzsam and Fulger". Hubro Music. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  11. "Jon Ebersons Jazzpunkensemble – Thirteen Rounds". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
Awards
Preceded by
Petter Wettre		 Recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award
2001		 Succeeded by
Håkon Kornstad Trio including
Paal Nilssen-Love & Mats Eilertsen
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