Erling Aksdal facts for kids

Erling Aksdal Jr. was born on February 18, 1953, in Molde, Norway. He is a talented Norwegian jazz pianist and composer. He has played music with many famous jazz artists like Chet Baker and Lee Konitz. Erling Aksdal also wrote special musical pieces for the Moldejazz festival in 1980 and 1995.

His Musical Journey

Erling Aksdal studied music at the Berklee College of Music from 1977 to 1980. Later, in 1984, he earned a master's degree in jazz from the New England Conservatory in Boston. Since 1991, he has taught jazz at the Trondheim Conservatory of Music. He is currently the head of the Jazz Performance Programme there. He also leads the "Midtnorsk jazzsenter" and represents the "Norsk Jazzforum."

Early Performances

Aksdal started his performing career at the Storyville Jazz Club while studying in Boston. Before that, he played with local bands in Bergen from 1972 to 1973. He was part of the "Søbstad/Halvorsens Quintet." In Molde, from 1973 to 1975, he led his own trio and the E. A. Sextet. He also played on the album Østerdalsmusikk in 1975.

While in the United States, he played with musicians like Herb Pomeroy and Ralph Moore. He even led his own orchestra for a special concert at the Moldejazz festival in 1980. He was also part of the "New Cool Quartet" in 1982.

Playing in Oslo and Trondheim

Aksdal moved to Oslo and joined the Magni Wentzel Quintet from 1975 to 1976. During his time in Oslo, he played with many other musicians, including Bjarne Nerem. He also played on Bjørn Johansen's album Dear Henrik in 1986. In 1995, he composed a special piece called Sonus in Obscuri for the Moldejazz festival.

In Molde, Aksdal composed music for the Teatret Vårt theater from 1988 to 1990. After moving to Trondheim in 1991, he played with the "Asmund Bjørken Sextet" on their album Pot's On (1992). He also toured with Lee Konitz and other musicians from the Trondheim Conservatory. They released the album Steps Towards A Dream in 1993. He has also played with the "Friends Connection" and on albums like Sval Draum (2005) with John Pål Inderberg.

His Compositions

Erling Aksdal has written several important musical pieces:

• A special piece for the Moldejazz festival in 1980, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
• Sonus in Obscuri, another special piece for Moldejazz in 1995. This piece was also performed at the "Nordlysfestivalen" in 1996.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Erling Aksdal Jr. has been a part of:

• 1975: Østerdalsmusikk (MAI), with Torgrim Sollid
• 1984: Hotelsuite (Odin Records), with Espen Rud
• 1986: Dear Henrik (Gemini Records), with Bjørn Johansen
• 1987: For the time being (Hot Club Records), with Warne Marsh
• 1989: Norwegian Radio Big Band meets Bill Holman (Taurus Records)
• 1992: Pot's On (Gemini Records), within «Asmund Bjørken Sextet»
• 1993: Steps Towards A Dream (Odin Records), with Lee Konitz, John Pål Inderberg and Bjørn Alterhaug
• 2005: Sval Draum (Taurus Records), with John Pål Inderberg
• 2008: Veckan 44 (Sonor Records), with «Norsk Svensk Cool Quintet»

See also

• List of jazz pianists