Morten Qvenild (born 31 August 1978) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, band leader, and producer.[1]

Morten Qvenild
Qvenild at Kongsberg Jazz Festival 2024 Photo: Birgit Fostervold
Qvenild at Kongsberg Jazz Festival 2024
Photo: Birgit Fostervold
Background information
Born (1978-08-31) 31 August 1978 (age 46)
Kongsberg, Norway
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Piano
  • keyboards
LabelsRune Grammofon, ACT
Member ofSusanna & the Magical Orchestra, Solveig Slettahjell
Formerly ofJaga Jazzist, Shining

Career

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With In the Country, 2010
 
Solo concert, 2011

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 used to play in Østenfor Sol with Ole Jørn Myklebust, with Myklebust's OJ Trio, Shining (1999–2003), and Jaga Jazzist (2000–2002).[2]

Since 2000, Qvenild is the "orchestra" of Susanna & the Magical Orchestra and an original member of Solveig Slettahjell's Slow Motion Quintet as well a duo partner. Beyond these enduring collaborations Qvenild is also involved in the Jon Klette Quartet, The National Bank and he toured with Nils Petter Molvær's Khmer and with Bertine Zetlitz Band (2003 and 2004).

In 2003, Qvenild founded the trio In the Country with co-students Roger Arntzen (bass) and Pål Hausken (drums). They recorded five albums for Rune Grammofon. On the latter two –Whiteout (2009) and the live recorded Sounds and Sights (2011)– the band was joined by multi-instrumentalist Andreas Mjøs. Their last release was issued by the German ACT label.

In 2011, he performed with Marit Larsen a new version of Erik Bye's Vår beste dag. This has become NRK's tune in their profile campaign.[3]

In 2017, he took part, playing multiple instruments such as upright piano, harpsichord, harmonium, dulcitone, mandolinette, autoharp and kokles on a-ha's MTV Unplugged recording of the Live Album, "Summer Solstice" in Giske, Norway and the Subsequent Unplugged tour in Jan and Feb 2018. He played keyboards for their Electric Summer tour in June through August 2018.

Honors

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Discography

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As leader

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  • 2015: Personal Piano
  • 2016: The HyPer(Sonal) Piano Project - Towards A (Per)Sonal Topography Of Grand Piano And Electronics (Hubro Music)
  • 2019: Landet Bortanfor Landet - Område 51 (Grappa Musikkforlag)

As sideman

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With In the Country

  • 2005: This Was the Pace of My Heartbeat (Rune Grammofon)[5]
  • 2006: Losing Stones, Collecting Bones (Rune Grammofon)
  • 2009: Whiteout (Rune Grammofon)
  • 2011: Sounds and Sights (Rune Grammofon)
  • 2013: Sunset Sunrise (ACT)

With Susanna & the Magical Orchestra (Susanna Wallumrød)

References

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  1. ^ "Morten Qvenild – Utgivelser" (in Japanese). grinningtroll.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  2. ^ "Morten Qvenild". Groove.no. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  3. ^ "Marit Larsen: – Glimrende initiativ". NRK.no. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  4. ^ "JazzIntro prisen". Moldejazz. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  5. ^ a b Hammerø, Tor (2009-02-14). "Morten Qvenild Biography" (in Norwegian). Store Norske Leksikon. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  6. ^ "Musikerprisen til Morten Qvenild". Norsk Musikkinformasjon. 2007-07-07. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  7. ^ "Susanna og det magiske" (in Norwegian). Norsk Musikkinformasjon Ballade.no. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
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Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award
2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Recipient of the open class Edvardprisen
2016
Succeeded by
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