Knut Johan Bratland Kristiansen (born 14 April 1946) is a

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

composer and jazz musician (piano), known from

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...

jazz life primarily for his many interpretations of the music of

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

as orchestra leader his own bands with various number of musicians involved. (in Norwegian)

Career

In his native town of

, Kristiansen played with Mette Rongved (vocals), Sture Janson (bass), established several jazz orchestras (including "Bergen Big Band"), made compositions for plays at the theater

Den Nationale Scene Den Nationale Scene ( en, National Theater) is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatres in Norway. History Opened under the name '' Det Norske Theater'' in 1850, the theatre has root ...

, held a variety of courses and seminars, and got the ''Bergen County Council Cultural Prize'' in 1978. In 1983, he received the ''Buddy Award'' for contributions to world music by "The Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra" (release, 1982), the Latin jazz band "Son Mu" (1981) who released the album ''Son Mu'' (1985) and the band "Night and Day" (1986). At the same time, he was central contributor to ''Vossajazz'', with the commissioned work to Bergen Big Band ''Kuria suite''. Kristiansen led the "Monk Memorial" series on the '' Kongsberg Jazz Festival'' (1987) og ''

Nattjazz Bergen International Jazz Festival or Nattjazz, is one of the largest jazz festivals of Norway. The festival has a musical profile with an emphasis on ethnic and jazz, contemporary jazz. It is held annually in late May, coinciding with Festspil ...

'' (1989), and led a Big Band on the album ''Monk Moods''. He performed the show "A tribute to Monk" at the ''Oslo Jazz Festival'' 1997. In 2005 he released the album ''Blues For Ell'' with his own Knut Kristiansen Trio, and in 2016 the album ''Kuria Suite'' was released.

Honors

* Buddyprisen 1983 for contributions to World music *

Vossajazz Vossajazz or Vossa Jazz (established 19 December 1973) is an international jazz festival in Voss, Norway, which takes place annually during the week before Easter, and which also includes concerts throughout the year. The festival has been led by ...

prisen 1990

Discography

*1983: ''Friendship'' with the Gambian Norwegian Friendship Orchestra (

Odin Records Odin Records is a Norwegian jazz record company and label founded in 1981 by the Norwegian Jazz Federation, when there were not many independent record labels in Norway. Only major international record companies were to be found in Oslo, so Odin ...

) commissioned work to the Bergen Jazz Forum's tenth anniversary in 1982. *1995: ''Monk moods'' (Odin Records) *2004: ''Blues For Ell'' (Dravle Records) *2016: ''Kuria Suite'' (

Grappa Music Grappa Musikkforlag (established 1983 in Norway) is a Norwegian music company initiated and directed by Helge Westbye. It is one of the oldest and biggest independent record companies in Norway today. The company represents prominent Norwegian a ...

), with Bergen Big Band

References

External links

Knut Kristiansen & Bergen Big Band "Kuria Suite" – Vossajazz.no
(summary in English) {{DEFAULTSORT:Kristiansen, Knut 20th-century Norwegian pianists 21st-century Norwegian pianists Norwegian jazz composers Male jazz composers Norwegian jazz pianists Musicians from Bergen 1946 births Living people Norwegian male pianists 20th-century Norwegian male musicians 21st-century Norwegian male musicians