Terje Isungset (born May 4, 1964) is a Norwegian drummer. From his background in
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and traditional Scandinavian music, he has designed musical instruments from non-traditional materials, including ice.
Career
Isungset was raised in
Geilo
is a centre in the municipality of Hol in Viken county, Norway. Geilo is primarily a ski resort town, with around 2,500 inhabitants. It is situated in the valley of Hallingdal, 250 km from Oslo and 260 km from Bergen. The Bergen Line ...
where he played traditional dance music with his father (accordion) during his high school days. Moving to
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 ...
in 1984 led him to be a popular member of a number of Bergen groups, such as Ictus and Tordenskjolds soldater (1984–85), Growl and Gruv (1984-88), Saksbehandlerne and Night and Day (1985–86), Salsa Pati (1985–87), and Supply (1985–88), in addition to periods within the Big Band Emanon from 1986, and his recording debut ''Amalgamation'' (1985) with
Kenneth Sivertsen.
[
Isungset is, after more than two decades on the jazz scene, one of Europe's most accomplished and innovative percussionists. With more than 25 years experience in jazz and Scandinavian traditional music he raises these narrow forms of music far beyond their traditional boundaries, becoming more like a crossover between a sound artist and a shaman. When crafting his own instruments from Norwegian natural elements such as arctic birch, granite, slate, sheep bells and even ice, he is highly recommended to those sensible to the poetry and simplicity of sounds.]
His work is highly acclaimed in the press, often described as innovative, visual, energetic, and different from any previously known concepts. His love for ice music was raised in 1999 when the commission of the winterfestival at Lillehammer asked him to compose and play in a frozen waterfall. He has invented the concept of icemusic, and also invented a way to perform icemusic indoor in ordinary concert halls, doing around 50 indoor ice concerts every year. CNN calls Isungset the first and only icemusician in the world.
Isungset has been commissioned to compose music for jazz festivals, dance performances, theatre, and film, with 41 commissioned concerts.[
He has released ten solo albums and is now doing most of his work internationally. Solo concerts, with his band or in collaboration with other artists. In 2006 he had the idea of creating an icemusic festival and started the Ice Music Festival at Geilo, Norway organized by Pål Knutsson Medhus. He is also the founding manager of the record label All Ice Records.
His most recent project is the Glassmusic together with ]Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda and educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studied music pedagogy, while he played in «Bodega Band» (1987� ...
. They released an album named ''World of Glass'' in late 2014. The recordings were largely made in front of a live audience in Tallinn. All the instruments were made from glass by students from the Estonian Academy of Arts.
He is a member of the bandsGroupa (Sweden), Utla and Isglem. He has ongoing duos with Per Jørgensen, Arve Henriksen, Sissel Vera Pettersen, Didier Petit, Therese Skauge, Jorma Tapio and Stian Westerhus.
For the 2017 Vossajazz festival, Isungset was commissioned to compose new music for a new band.
Isungset is also an associate professor at the Grieg Academy, University of Bergen.
Honors
* 1996: Vossajazzprisen
* 2016:''Financial Times'' named Isungset as one of the "First persons".
* 2008: Edvardprisen
The Edvard Prize is a Norwegian music award in given by TONO, copyright organization for musicians and composers. The award, which was first awarded in 1998, is awarded annually and can only be awarded to members of the organization. The goal is t ...
in the Open class for the album ''Igloo''
Projects
*2010: ''Organic expressions'', project with three dancers (Rebecca Hytting, Guro Rimeslåtten, Christine Kjellberg) from the Carte Blanche Dance Company
*2012: ''Isslottet'', at the Oslo Opera and Ballet
Discography
Solo albums
*1997: ''Reise'' (NorCD
NorCD (established 1991 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label for folk, jazz, world music and improvisational music, led by the founder saxophonist and composer Karl Seglem. NorCD is distributed through Musikkoperatørene, and is a member ...
)
*2000: ''Floating Rhythms'' (Via Music)
*2002: ''Iceman Is'' (All Ice Records) ( Jazzland/Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
), with Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda and educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studied music pedagogy, while he played in «Bodega Band» (1987� ...
*2003: ''Middle of Mist'' (NorCD)
*2006: ''Igloo'' (All Ice Records), nominated for Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen, often referred to as the Norwegian Grammy Awards in English, is a Norwegian music award presented to Norwegian musicians. The award was established by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organizat ...
in the class Jazz, with Sidsel Endresen
Sidsel Endresen (born 19 June 1952) is a Norwegian singer, composer, and actress. She was part of the Jon Eberson group. Since 1987, Endresen has pursued a successful solo career, recording for ECM.
Career
Endresen was one of the most pronou ...
*2007: ''Two Moons'' (All Ice Records), with Per Jørgensen
*2008: ''Ice Concerts'' (All Ice Records)
*2009: ''Hibernation'' (All Ice Records)
*2010: ''Winter Songs'' (All Ice Records)
*2014: ''World Of Glass'' (All Ice Records), with Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda and educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studied music pedagogy, while he played in «Bodega Band» (1987� ...
*2015: ''Meditations'' (All Ice Records)
*2015: ''Terje Isungset & Stian Westerhus'' (All Ice Records), with Stian Westerhus
*2015: ''Isslottet'' (All Ice Records)
*2016: ''Oase'' Terje Isungset & Sissel Vera Pettersen (All Ice Records)
*2019: ''Sildrande'' (All Ice Records) Terje Isungset with Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda and educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studied music pedagogy, while he played in «Bodega Band» (1987� ...
, Mats Eilertsen
Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, Sv ...
, Nils Økland, Morten Qvenild
Morten Qvenild (born 31 August 1978) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, band leader, and producer.
Career
Qvenild started his jazz career in the big band Ung Musikk in 1995, followed by studies on the Jazz program at the Norges Musikkhøgskole. He u ...
, Sissel Vera Pettersen & others
Collaborative works
;With Kenneth Sivertsen
*1985: ''Amalgamation'' (Hot Club Records), including Knut Riisnæs
Knut Riisnæs (born 13 November 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone and flute), arranger, and composer, son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs and brother of classical pianist Anne Eline Riisnæs (1951–) and jazz saxophonist Odd Riis ...
and Bjørn Kjellemyr
Bjørn Kjellemyr (born 4 December 1950 in Bamble, Norway) is a jazz double bassist, known from a variety of musical contexts like Terje Rypdal & The Chasers, Joe Henderson, Bob Berg, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Dag Arnesen, K ...
;Within Karl Seglem
Karl Seglem (born 8 July 1961 in Årdalstangen, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (saxophone and bukkehorn), composer and producer, known from a series of combined jazz and traditional music releases, as well as leading his own record label ...
's Sogn-A-Song
*1991: '' Sogn-A-Song'' (NorCD
NorCD (established 1991 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label for folk, jazz, world music and improvisational music, led by the founder saxophonist and composer Karl Seglem. NorCD is distributed through Musikkoperatørene, and is a member ...
)
*1994: ''Rit'' (NorCD)
;Within Isglem (duo with Karl Seglem)
*1991: ''Rom'' (NorCD)
*1992: ''To Steg'' (NorCD
NorCD (established 1991 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label for folk, jazz, world music and improvisational music, led by the founder saxophonist and composer Karl Seglem. NorCD is distributed through Musikkoperatørene, and is a member ...
)
*1996: ''Null G'' (NorCD)
*2003: ''Fire'' (NorCD)
*2016: "Femte" (NorCD)
;Within Orleysa, fest. Tore Brunborg
*1991: ''Orleysa'' ( Odin Records)
*1993: ''Svanshornet'' (Odin Records)
;Within Utla (including Håkon Høgemo and Karl Seglem)
*1992: ''Utla'' (NorCD)
*1993: ''Juv'' (NorCD)
*1995: ''Brodd'' (NorCD)
*1999: ''Dans'' (NorCD)
*2003: ''Song'' (NorCD), feat. Berit Opheim Versto
;Within Groupa (including Jonas Simonson and Mats Edén)
*1999: ''Lavalek'' (Xource)
*2008: ''Frost'' (Footprint)
*2014: ''Silent Folk'' (Footprint)
*2016: "Kind of folk,vol1. Sweden. (All Ice Records)
;With others
*1995: '' Haugtussa'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKV) is a Norwegian company and record label, founded in 1974 by Erik Hillestad. Among the musicians who have issued records on the label are Ketil Bjørnstad, Kari Bremnes, Erik Bye, Ole Paus, Sigvart Dagsland, Bjørn E ...
), with poems by Arne Garborg
Arne Garborg (born Aadne Eivindsson Garborg) (25 January 1851 – 14 January 1924) was a Norwegian writer.
Garborg championed the use of Landsmål (now known as Nynorsk, or New Norwegian), as a literary language; he translated the Odyssey into ...
(including Lynni Treekrem, Annbjørg Lien
Annbjørg Lien (born 15 October 1971) is a Norwegian musician, playing the hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle), violin, and nyckelharpa.
Career
She first came to national prominence in 1986. Shortly afterwards got a recording deal with the Heilo ...
, Arild Andersen
Arild Andersen (born 27 October 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician bassist, known as the most famous Norwegian bass player in the international jazz scene.
Career
Andersen was born at Strømmen, Norway. He started his musical career as jazz g ...
, Børge Petersen-Øverleir, Hans Fredrik Jacobsen, Ketil Bjørnstad
Ketil Bjørnstad (born 25 April 1952) is a pianist, composer and author. Initially trained as a classical pianist, Bjørnstad discovered jazz at an early age and has embraced the emergence of "European jazz". Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian) ...
, Per Hillestad and Tone Hulbækmo)
*1995: ''Det syng'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), with Lynni Treekrem
*1996: ''Prosa'' (NorCD), with poems by Jon Fosse (including Arve Henriksen, Håkon Høgemo, Karl Seglem and Reidar Skår
Reidar Skår (born 13 March 1964 in Øvre Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway) is a Norwegian musician (keyboards), composer and music producer, known from several recordings and cooperations with the likes of Karl Seglem, Jacob Young, Arve Henrik ...
)
*1996: ''Tya - frå Bor til Bytes'' (NorCD), with Elin Rosseland, Karl Seglem
Karl Seglem (born 8 July 1961 in Årdalstangen, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (saxophone and bukkehorn), composer and producer, known from a series of combined jazz and traditional music releases, as well as leading his own record label ...
and Reidar Skår
*1998: '' Spir'' (NorCD), with Karl Seglem, Berit Opheim Versto, Morten Sæle and Audun Erlien
*1999: ''Bergtatt'', with Grete Helgerød and Oslo Kammerkor
*2000: ''Daa'' (NorCD), trio with Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter.
Career
Henriksen was born in Stranda and educated on the Jazz program at Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studied music pedagogy, while he played in «Bodega Band» (1987� ...
and Karl Seglem
*2001: ''Shadows And Light'' (FMR Records), duo with Frode Gjerstad
Frode Gjerstad (born 24 March 1948) is a Norwegian jazz musician with alto saxophone as principal instrument, but he also plays other saxophones, clarinet, and flute. He has collaborated with Paal Nilssen-Love, Borah Bergman, Peter Brötzmann, ...
*2004: ''New North'' (NorCD), with Karl Seglem
*2005: ''Didier Petit - Terje Isungset'' (Vossa Jazz Records), duo with Didier Petit live at Vossajazz 2003
*2006: ''Aihki'' (Ektro Records), duo with Jorma Tapio
*2006: ''Sáivu'', with Arve Henriksen and Torgeir Vassvik
*2006: ''On the Great Alkali Plains'' (Jester Records), with Espen Jørgensen
*2008: ''Agbalagba Daada'' (Ektro Records), duo with Per Jørgensen
*2008: ''Laden With Rain'' (FMR Records), duo with Stian Westerhus
*2008: ''Sådagen'' (Etnisk musikklubb), with Eilif Gundersen, Gunnlaug Lien Myhr and Tor Egil Kreken
*2011: ''City Stories'' (NorCD), with Daniel Herskedal
*2011: ''Beginner's Guide to Scandinavia'' (Nascente/Virgin), with various artists
References
External links
*
Ice Music website
All Ice Records website
Norwegian Ice Festival website
www.glassmusic.no
www.groupa.se
Foxy Digitalis interview, 2006
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isungset, Terje
1964 births
Living people
Norwegian composers
Norwegian male composers
20th-century Norwegian drummers
21st-century Norwegian drummers
Norwegian jazz drummers
Male drummers
Norwegian percussionists
Musicians from Hol
Musicians from Bergen
Norwegian musical instrument makers
NorCD artists
20th-century drummers
20th-century Norwegian male musicians
21st-century Norwegian male musicians
Male jazz musicians
Trondheim Jazz Orchestra members
Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble members
Agbaland members
Jazzland Recordings (1997) artists
FMR Records artists