Øystein Skar (born 15 October 1985 in

Vinstra Vinstra is a town in Nord-Fron Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The town is the administrative centre of the municipality. The town is located in the Gudbrandsdalen valley, at the confluence of the Gudbrandsdalslågen river and the Vins ...

, Norway) is a Norwegian pianist and composer, known from bands like Cakewalk, Glow,

Highasakite Highasakite is an indie pop and indie rock band from Norway. The band formed when vocalist and songwriter Ingrid Helene Håvik met drummer Trond Bersu whilst studying jazz at the Trondheim Jazz Conservatory. In 2010, after just six months, the d ...

and Klang Kollektif.

Career

Skar was raised in Vinstra, Oppland and started at the local music school at the age of 12. He continued his piano studies on the Music program at the Vinstra high-school (2001), and started studying jazz-piano and improvisation under Misha Alperin at the

Norwegian Academy of Music The Norwegian Academy of Music (Norwegian: ''Norges musikkhøgskole'', NMH) is a university-level music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the ...

(2004). Prior to his settling in Oslo, Skar had performed classical piano for many years, but then the main focus moved to modern jazz, experimental music, avant-garde, rock, composing and electronic music with analogue synths and Lap-tops. But these days Øystein also performs more and more classical music as well, in addition to rock and pop in different bands, and as a solo pianist. When on many of his tours as solo pianist or with different bands and other projects, he has played at festivals like

Moldejazz Molde International Jazz Festival (MIJF) or Moldejazz (established 1961 in Molde) takes place annually in July, and is known as one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It was initiated by the local Storyville Jazz Club. Since 1964 it has re ...

, Jazz Nad Odra, the Murmansk jazzfestival,

Oslo Jazzfestival Oslo International Jazz Festival (Oslo Jazzfestival, established 1986 in Norway) is a Norwegian music event, held in August, with a focus on music form the jazz genre, performed on stages in Oslo. History The pilot project (1984–1985) was init ...

, the Nordisk Allkunst, Lillehammer Jazzfestival, Ungjazz, On the edge of Wrong, Sounds of the Nordic countries, in addition to venues in Iceland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Russia, South Africa, France, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden and Czech Republic. Over the years Skar has collaborated with a series of musicians like

Thomas Strønen Thomas Strønen (born 7 December 1972) is a Norwegian jazz drummer who has recorded more than 70 albums. He has worked with Iain Ballamy, Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen, Ashley Slater, Eivind Aarset, Christian Fennesz, Nils Petter Molvaer, B ...

, Jessica Slighter, Juhani Silvola,

Erik Nylander Johan Erik Nylander (born 3 April 1981 in Norberg, Sweden) is a Swedish jazz musician (drums), improviser and composer, working in Norway since 2002. He plays in several bands, among them Ola Kvernberg Trio, "Kobert", Kirsti Huke Quartet, Tor ...

, Petter Vågan, Erik Johannesen, Miroslaw "Carlos" Kaczmarczyk, Kim Johannesen,

Trygve Seim Trygve Seim (born 25 April 1971) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) and composer. He started to play the saxophone in 1985 after hearing Jan Garbarek's CD ''Eventyr''. Career Seim was born in Oslo. He studied music at Foss videregåe ...

, Camilla Granlien, Fredrik Kirkevold,

Tor Haugerud Tor Andreas Haugerud (born 7 January 1962 in Brattvåg) is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums and percussion) known from Transjoik, Blixband, BOL (band), BOL, Kjetil Møster, Möster Trio, and has created his own avant-garde band "MisterYtor" ("No ...

, Thomas Hukkelberg, Bjarne Stensli,

Edvard Askeland Edvard Askeland (born 10 December 1954) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from a series of album releases in various genres and for being regular in Dag Arnesens lineups in 1970-80, and within Cutting Edge. Career Askeland was born in Bergen ...

, Ivan Makedonov, Malte Winje, Morten Stene, Richard Nygaard,

Mari Maurstad Mari Maurstad (born 17 March 1957) is a Norwegian actress. She debuted at Nationaltheatret (the National Theatre) in 1981, and has worked there since. Here she has had roles such as Polly in Brecht's ''The Threepenny Opera'', and Mrs. Sørby in ...

, Linda Øvrebø, Wojtek Staroniewicz, Peer Gynt Chamber Orchestra, Misha Alperin, Thomas T. Dahl, Ingeborg Dahlheim,

Dennis Storhøi Jahn Dennis Storhøi (born July 15, 1960 in Fredrikstad, Norway) is a Norwegian actor. Biography He is an acclaimed theatre actor in Norway, having won several awards. However, he is known for his role as ''Herger the Joyous'' in John McTiernan' ...

and many more, contributed on a series of albums, and won several prices. Skar is also an active composer on commission, and he has written several music works for choir, percussion, dancers in addition to works for smaller ensembles. These works has been performed in various occasions. Now he works at

Barratt Due Institute of Music The Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, Norway, is a music education institute founded in 1927 by pianist Mary Barratt Due and violinist Henrik Adam Due. It is situated in Fagerborg in Oslo and is a private stiftelse, foundation which receive ...

in Oslo.

Discography

;With Sacred Harp * 2009: ''Sacred Harp'' EP (The Perfect Hoax) ;With Cakewalk *

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

: ''Wired'' ( Hubro Music) *

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...

: ''Transfixed' (Hubro Music) ;With

*2012: ''All That Floats Will Rain'' (Riot Factory) *

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

: ''Silent Treatment'' (

Propeller Recordings Propeller Recordings is a Norwegian independent record label, launched in 2003 in Oslo. It has grown into an influential label both in its home city as well as worldwide, and has now expanded to include a UK office based in London. The label op ...

) ;With Jessica Slighter *2012: ''Fear And The Framing'' (Hubro Music) ;With Glow *2013: ''Glow'' (Playdate Records) ;With Loud Jazz Band *2013: ''From The Distance: Live In Oslo'' (LJB Music Records)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skar, Oystein 1985 births Living people People from Nord-Fron 21st-century Norwegian pianists Norwegian jazz pianists Norwegian classical pianists Norwegian jazz composers Avant-garde jazz musicians Norwegian University of Science and Technology alumni 21st-century classical pianists