Christian Wallumrød (born 26 April 1971 in

Kongsberg Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production and fo ...

, Norway) is a Norwegian

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. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

musician (piano, organ and

electronic keyboards An electronic keyboard, portable keyboard, or digital keyboard is an electronic musical instrument based on keyboard instruments. Electronic keyboards include synthesizers, digital pianos, stage pianos, electronic organs and digital audio wor ...

) and composer, and is considered one of the most prominent musicians of the younger Norwegian generation, known from releases with his own ''Christian Wallumrød Ensemble'' on the German label

ECM Records ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is an independent record label founded by Karl Egger, Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner in Munich in 1969. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a variety of recordings, and ECM's a ...

, while regularly touring and appearing in festivals in Norway, elsewhere in Scandinavia and Europe, and in the US. He is the brother of jazz vocalist

Susanna Wallumrød Susanna Karolina Wallumrød (born 23 June 1979) is a Norwegian vocalist, known for her low key original songs. She was born in Kongsberg, and is the sister of the drummer Fredrik Wallumrød and the pianist Christian Wallumrød; she is the cous ...

and the drummer Fredrik Wallumrød, and cousin to the pianist David Wallumrød.

Career

Wallumrød was educated on the Jazz Program at '' Trondheim Musikkonservatorium'', where he cooperated with the bands ''Airamero'', ''Nutrio'' together with

Eldbjørg Raknes Eldbjørg Raknes (born 9 February 1970 in Midsund Municipality, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz vocalist known for her a cappella vocal performances, innovative improvised vocals and electronic effects. She has collaborated with musicians such as Jo ...

and

Arve Henriksen Arve Henriksen (born 22 March 1968) is a Norwegian trumpeter. Career Henriksen was born in Stranda Municipality and educated on the Jazz program at Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim Musikkonservatorium; he later studie ...

, as well as in a trio with drummer Espen Rud and bassist Johannes Eick, among others. After moving to

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

he has played in a quartet with

Petter Wettre Petter Wettre (born 11 August 1967) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) and composer, known from a number of album recordings, accompanied by receiving the Spellemannprisen two times. Career Wettre was born and raised in Sandefjord. H ...

, composed the commissioned work ''Eight Thirty'' for

Kongsberg Jazz Festival Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964. Artists Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival; internation ...

with

Ståle Storløkken Ståle Storløkken (born 22 February 1969 in Dombås, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (keyboards, organ and piano) and composer, known for collaborations with artists like Terje Rypdal, BigBang, Supersilent and Motorpsycho. Store Norske ...

(1994), and operated the trio ''Close Erase'' with

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (born 23 September 1971 in Oppdal Municipality, Norway) is a Norwegian double bass, bassist active in the jazz and free jazz genres. (in Norwegian) Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian) Career Flaten played electric ba ...

(bass) and

Per Oddvar Johansen Per Oddvar Johansen (born 1 March 1968) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (drummer), most recognized for his work with Trygve Seim, Christian Wallumrød, The Source, Solveig Slettahjell and Vigleik Storaas, but has also been awarded the Spellemann ...

(drums), with four releases. He has also contributed on recordings within a wide range of musical expressions, like

Odd Børretzen Odd Lunde Børretzen (21 November 1926 – 3 November 2012) was a Norwegians, Norwegian author, illustrator, translator, and one of the most significant text writers, folk singers and artists in Norway. Biography Børretzen was born in ...

Lars Martin Myhre Lars Martin Myhre (10 August 1956 – 28 December 2024) was a Norwegian composer, guitarist, pianist, singer and record producer residing in Sandefjord. He was best known for his collaboration with Odd Børretzen, (in Norwegian) but for more than ...

(''Noen ganger er det all right'', 1995),

Jon Eberson Jon Arild Eberson (born 6 January 1953) is a Norwegian jazz guitarist and composer, the son of jazz guitarist Leif Eberson (1925–1970), and the father of keyboardist Marte Maaland Eberson. He was a member of the bands Moose Loose (1973–77), ...

Jazzpunkensemblet Jazzpunkensemblet (established 1983 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz ensemble orchestra led by the famous musicians Jon Eberson on guitar and Nils Petter Molvær on trumpet, and known for a clean style duel between two rhythm sections, and the ...

(''Thirteen Rounds'', 1997),

Jacob Young Jacob Wayne Young (born September 10, 1979) is an American actor and producer. He is a five-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee, winning once in 2002 for his role as Lucky Spencer in the soap opera ''General Hospital'' (2000–2003). He is best kno ...

(''Glow'', 1999), with

Jan Bang Jan Bang (born 21 August 1968) is a Norwegian musician and record producer who has worked with Morten Harket, Sidsel Endresen, David Sylvian, Nils Petter Molvær, Arild Andersen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Arve Henriksen, and Erik Honoré. (in Norweg ...

and

Erik Honoré Erik Honoré (born 11 December 1966) is a Norwegian writer, musician, record producer and sound engineer. As a musician, he has collaborated with Jan Bang, David Sylvian, Brian Eno/ Peter Schwalm, Jon Hassell, Nils Petter Molvær, Arve Henriks ...

(''Birth wish'', 2000), and last but not the leased

Audun Kleive Audun Kleive (born 20 October 1961) is a Norwegian jazz drummer.) He was raised in Skien and is the son of organist Kristoffer Kleive and brother of organist Iver Kleive. Career Kleive began to play drums in a rock and dance band, and then went ...

Generator X ''Generator Rex'' is an American animated superhero television series created by Man of Action for Cartoon Network, with John Fang of Cartoon Network Studios as supervising producer. It is based on the comic '' M. Rex'', created by Aaron Sowd, ...

(''Generator X'', 2000) Wallumrød has continued the cooperation with Henriksen, in a trio with

Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen is a Norwegian percussion and cimbalom player. Career Born in Oslo, Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen started to play music at the age of seven and grew up playing percussion, piano and tuba. He studied percussion at the ...

with the albums ''No birch'' (1997) and ''Birth wish'' (2001), and in his own ''Christian Wallumrød Ensemble'' with

(trommer) releasing ''Sofienberg variations'' (2003) and ''A year from easter'' (2005), all on the German label

ECM ECM may refer to the following: Economics and commerce * Engineering change management * Equity capital markets * Error correction model, an econometric model * European Common Market Mathematics * Lenstra's Elliptic curve method for factor ...

. In the autumn 2006 he toured with his own Christian Wallumrød Sextet, consisting of the personnel from his Christian Wallumrød Ensamble reinforced with string trio Tanja Orning (cello), Gjermund Larsen (violin) and Giovanna Pessi (harp). Other prominent partnership include

Ketil Gutvik Ketil Gutvik (born 4 July 1972 in Ålesund, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) known on the Oslo's jazz scene since 1992. Career Gutvik is a graduate of "The Trondheim Kommunale Musikkskole" (1987–92) and the Norwegian Academy of ...

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 prom ...

and

, resulting in a series of album releases. On his latest albums ''Fabula Suite Lugano'' (2009) and ''Outstairs'' (2013) with Christian Wallumrød Ensamble, he leads a virtuoso ensemble at low speed. It is a beautiful but unsettling experience. We get a mixture of catchy songs with recognizable melodies and simple harmonies, combined with idea-based compositions where the musicians' improvising abilities are expressed. John Kellman of the

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

magazine recognized Christian Wallumrød Ensemble's appearance at TD

Ottawa Jazz Festival The Ottawa Jazz Festival is a music festival held annually in Ottawa, Canada. It showcases a wide range of jazz genres, including swing, jive, fusion jazz, hot jazz, boogie as well as diverse cultures and traditions. The festival claims to brin ...

June 2013, as no. 8 of his "Best Live Shows of 2013".

Honors

*2001:

Kongsberg Jazz Award Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964. Artists Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival; internation ...

Discography

Solo albums

*2015: ''Pianokammer'' ( Hubro Music) *2021: ''Speaksome'' (Hubro Music)

As Band Leader

;With ''Christian Wallumrød Trio'' *1998: ''No Birch'' (

) ;With ''Christian Wallumrød Ensemble'' *2001: ''Sofienberg Variations'' (

) *2004: ''A Year From Easter'' (

) *2007: ''The Zoo Is Far'' (

) *2009: ''Fabula Suite Lugano'' (

) *2013: ''Outstairs'' (

) *2016: ''Kurzsam And Fulger'' ( Hubro Music)

Collaborations

;With Close Erase *1996: ''Close Erase'' ( NorCD) *1999: ''No. 2'' (NorCD) *2001: ''Dance This'' (Blå Production) *2006: ''Sport Rocks'' (

Jazzaway Jazzaway is a Norwegian record label founded by saxophonist Jon Klette in Oslo, Norway. He is also the main composer/leader in the band Jazzmob. Their CD ''Pathfinder'' (2003) was the first release from the label. The label includes artists ...

) ;With

s Generator X *2000: ''Generator X'' ( Jazzland) *2004: ''Ohmagoddabl'' (Jazzland) *2012: ''Attack '' (POLselection) ;With

Karl Seglem Karl Seglem (born 8 July 1961) 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 NorCD from 1991. Care ...

*2004: ''Nye Nord'' ( NorCD) *2004: ''New North'' (NorCD) ;With others *1994: ''Airamero'' (

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 Od ...

), with Airamero *1995: ''Noen Ganger Er Det All Right'' (Tylden), with

and

*1997: ''Thirteen Rounds'' (

Curling Legs __NOTOC__ Curling Legs Productions A/S (established 1992 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian record label with a catalogue encompassing all styles of jazz and improvised music. It was started by Knut Værnes and Morten Halle to release their own m ...

), with

's ''Jazzpunkensemble'' *1997: ''Fra Himmelen'' (NorCD), with Elin Rosseland and Johannes Eick *2000: ''Birth Wish'' (Pan M Records), with

and

*2001: ''Glow'' (

), with

*2002: ''Objects Of Desire'' (Albedo),

Oslo Sinfonietta Oslo Sinfonietta is a Norwegian contemporary classical orchestra. It was founded by composer Asbjørn Schaatun in 1986. The current artistic director is Christian Eggen. Oslo Sinfonietta grew out of contemporary music circles at the Norwegian Aca ...

conducted by Christian Eggen and music composed by Eivind Buene, featuring Christian Wallumrød and Torben Snekkestad *2004: ''Merriwinkle'' (Jazzland), with

and

Helge Sten Deathprod is the musical pseudonym used by Norwegian artist Helge Sten for his ambient music project. He is married to Norwegian singer Susanna Wallumrød. Biography Sten began creating music under this name starting in 1991, culminating with a ...

*2006: ''Dans Les Arbres'' (

), with Xavier Charles,

Ivar Grydeland Ivar Grydeland (born 1 October 1976) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and composer raised in Kongsberg. Career Grydeland was born in Trondheim, Norway, and studied jazz guitar at the Norwegian Academy of Music (1996–2000, and 2001–2 ...

and

Ingar Zach Ingar Zach (born 29 June 1971 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian percussionist and businessman, known from several recordings. Career In the 1990s, Zach played within Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag and 'Harnihomba', while studying music at the Univ ...

References

External links

*
Biografi
from ''Norsk Musikkinformasjon'' (in Norwegian) {{DEFAULTSORT:Wallumrod, Christian 20th-century Norwegian pianists 21st-century Norwegian pianists Norwegian jazz pianists Norwegian jazz composers ECM Records artists Hubro Music artists Norwegian University of Science and Technology alumni Musicians from Kongsberg 1971 births Living people Trondheim Jazz Orchestra members Close Erase members Jazzpunkensemblet members TINGeLING members