Biography Egil Kapstad

Egil Kapstad (Oslo, Norway, 6 August 1940 - 13 July 2017) was a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer and arranger.

Kapstad, one of Norway's finest modern jazz pianists, known for his very special and memorable touch, is also well known for his skills as a performer, arranger, and composer with a wide range. The list of international musicians he has worked with is long. It contains musicians like: Chet Baker, Red Mitchell, Al Cohn, Barney Kessel, Bob Brookmeyer, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Philip Cathrine, Toots Thielemans, Nisse Sandström, Jan Allan, Bernt Rosengren, Mads Vinding, Georg Riedel and Red Mitchell to mention some, and Norwegian musicians: Magni Wentzel, Karin Krog, Bjarne Nerem, Rowland Greenberg, Laila Dahlseth, Bjørn Johansen, Bjørn Alterhaug, Egil "Bop" Johannesen, Jon Christensen, Arild Andersen, Tore Johansen, Frode Thingnæs, Terje Venaas, Jon Pål Inderberg, Eyvind Olsen, Atle Hammer and Hilde Hefte.

Egil Kapstad has also received various prestigous awards and prizes:

Norsk Jazzforbund's Buddystatuette in 1977

The Nopa prize - The composition of the year for his composition "Epilog" (In memory of Bill Evans) in 1983

Oslo City's Cultureprize in 1984

From Fund for performing art he was awarded with Gammleng-prisen in 1985

Music award: The Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen) for best jazzalbum in 1989

Music award: The Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen) for best jazzalbum in 1994

Awarded 2002 a Government Grant for the rest of his career.

His discography is extensive with a long list of LP and CD recordings.

His compositions span widly: He has written music for over 50 plays - from: Ibsen's"Kongsemnerne" (The Pretenders), "The Glass Menasgerie", "King Lear" to "Kuler i Solnedgangen", and he has composed music for films and television drama.

He has composed for a range of ensembles from symphony orchestras, choirs, string quartets, guitar and voices, solo flute and jazz ensembles.

Some few of his compositions: "Syner" based on Oscar Wilde's "Requiem", "Døgn", "Epilog" written in memory of Bill Evans, "The Old Paradise". His composition "Fiin Gammel" was recorded on the LP/CD "Sjargong Vålereng" with the late actor Rolf Søder. This melody has become an Oslo-classic.

His composition "Duomo" (a 20 minutes composition) had it's world premiere in Norway's largest Cathedral Nidarosdomen, performed by Nidarosdomens Boys Choir and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

The year after his composition "Drømmemakeren sa" had it's world premiere in Germany together with the poet Jan Erik Vold. The composition was performed by Corner String Quartet, Kapstad at the Grand piano and Nisse Sandström tenor saxophone.

After this - just to mention a few more - he composed for the saxophonist John-Pål Inderberg and Trondheimsolistene. This had its world premiere in Dagestan 2009 and in Norway with Trondheimsolistene 2010.

2011 – His composition The Source/Kildeskrift was ordered by the new Opera-, Theatre- and Concert-house Kilden for the Opening night of The Multi-media-hall.

2013 - Kapstad also composed for Vestfold International Festival - a one hour composition ordered by the festival.

2015 - His one hour composition ”Store hvite bok” for Norwegian Litterature Festival.

2016 - Egil Kapstad composed a one hour composition "Flyktning" (Refugee). A commission work for Kristiansund Church, Art, Culture Festival.

Kapstad was for one period chairman of the organization "Ny Musikk" (New Music).

He started The Norwegian Jazz Federation together with among others Karin Krog, and was a board-memeber from the start.

He regularly hosted programs and appeared as band leader on NRK, the National Norwegian TV and radio.

He was amongst other things initiator of programs like "Musikerhjørnet" (Musicians corner).

His collaboration with the poet Rolf Jacobsen was based on friendship and mutual respect, leading to the LP "Til Jorden".

For many years he worked closely with the Norwegian poet Jan Erik Vold, resulting in altogether 10 CD productions - the latest "Drømmemakeren sa" where all compositions are composed by Kapstad.

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