Tord z fjordowych topieli

 

The oldest of five children, Tord was born in Oslo, October 5^th 1970. He moved to the village Hurdal in Akershus, Norway in 1973, where his brothers and sisters were all born. He grew up in this rural area, while always having the city of Oslo as a cultural point of reference. Playing the piano since the age of 4, he started composing and improvising before learning to read music and perform classical pieces. He played in churches and local settings of different kinds, combining classical training with writing his own songs and performing gospel music and jazz-fusion. He played the piano with choirs, while attending school. At the age of 19, he moved back to Oslo to study at the University of Oslo. There, his interest in jazz really started to flourish. However, he studied sociology, psychology and the history of religions up to the level of a cand.mag. or Bachelor degree. He did his "siviltjeneste" (social work instead of joining the armed forces) at Kirkens Bymisjon (Church City Mission) in Oslo for a year and a half, where he also kept working as a pianist later on. He played with the jazz bands "GEST" and "BALSAM", which were both important in bringing him the experiences of creative jazz work. At this time he also met vocalist Kristin Asbjørnsen, whose artistic thoroughness and expressive powers have had a lasting and formative effect on Tord’s journey.

Tord applied for the jazz department at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim, Norway and was accepted in 1993. While in Trondheim, he also formed several bands and played with a number of great musicians. He played with bass player Odd Magne Gridset, tuba player David Gald, saxophonist Eirik Hegdal, drummer Magnus Forsberg and several others, while also continuing his work with singer Kristin Asbjørnsen, both in a duo setting and with the quartets SirkelSaga and Aggravatin' Papa. Several of the Trondheim musicians are still his important friends and colleagues. They played at festivals, clubs and churches all over Southern Norway with a number of these constellations, and we also toured Sweden and Finland with "Jazzprosjekt '95".

Having finished three years of training in jazz piano, jazz history, improvisational techniques, composition and analysis in Trondheim, Tord moved back to Oslo. There, he pursued his career as a freelance musician, while also commencing his second wave of academic studies at the University of Oslo. Over a two-and-a-half years' time he obtained the cand.philol. degree in musicology (this degree resembles something in between a master and a Ph.D.), specializing in the psychology and phenomenology of improvisation, while also attending courses in general analysis, composition and philosophy of music.

Tord now lives in Oslo,  at Sofienberg in the eastern part of the central city. He practices, rehearses, plays concerts, goes on tours, and continues his research. He also taught jazz piano part time at the University of Oslo, Department of Musicology for a few years. In January 1999 he released his first official CD “aire & angels” with singer Siri Gjære. During 2000 another two CD's involving him were released ("Port of Call" with Silije Nergaard and "First Meeting" with the Nymark Collective). Three more releases came in 2001 (with Carl Petter Opsahl, with Funky Butt, and a second one with Silje Nergaard, "At First Light"). In 2002 came the release of Nymark Collective's second album "Contemporary Tradition" and also a second aire & angels album simply called "aire & angels II". These projects and recordings are all very important in making up his musical path so far.

In 2003, he released his first solo album with his trio, "Changing Places". There was a great deal of enthusiasm all around the world among listeners and critics alike. The trio has toured extensively after the release, playing in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. 2005 saw a second trio album, entitled "The Ground", and in 2007 they released "Being There", completing a trilogy of trio albums on ECM. Tord also keeps playing with other musicians alongside the trio; although not as frequently as before. He says that interactive work is still just as important as solo featuring. Among his most important co-workers at this stage are Tore Brunborg, Kåre Nymark jr., Mats Eilertsen, Kenneth Ekornes, Jarle Vespestad, Harald Johnsen, Carl Petter Opsahl, Ulrich Drechsler, and Siri Gjære.