Photo by CF Wesenberg
Christian Wallumrød
Updated info here: www.christianwallumrod.com
Christian Wallumrød has worked as a musician and composer in the field of jazz and improvised music since 1992, and he is considered one of the most prominent musicians of the younger generation of Norwegian musicians / composers.
He made his debut on ECM Records with the album “No Birch” (issued in 1996) to considerable critical acclaim. The album “Sofienberg Variations” with a new ensemble (Christian Wallumrød Ensemble: with Nils Økland, Arve Henriksen and Per Oddvar Johansen) was released on ECM in 2003. Wallumrøds third album ”A Year From Easter”, with the same ensemble, is just recently released on the German record label.
The album ”Merriwinkle” (Jazzland Records/Universal) is his first recording with singer Sidsel Endresen. The collaboration with Endresen (which sometimes also includes Helge Sten aka ”Deathprod”) is based on improvisation. ”Merriwinkle” was released primo 2004 and has received splendid critics throughout Europe. He has also recorded several albums on Norwegian labels, a.o. with the trio Close Erase. In addition he has for several years been part of drummer Audun Kleive’s ”Generator X” (2 albums on Jazzland Records).
Wallumrød has generally focused on small ensembles, both as a performer and a composer. Apart from his present acoustic ensemble (CWE) were he writes all the material, most of his work is based on improvisation and the fluid borders between improvised and written music. He has toured, played festivals and made broadcasting recordings in Norway and Scandinavia, Finland, Germany, UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czeck Rep., Estonia, Italy, China and Canada over a 13 year period.
At the Ultima Festival for Contemporary Music 2000 (Oslo) he participated as an improvising soloist on Fender Rhodes (el-piano) on Eivind Buene’s (N) “Objects of Desire” with Oslo Sinfonietta, conducted by Christian Eggen.
In addition to the various ensemble work, Christian Wallumrød has done several solo performances (acoustic and electric).
Selected discography
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble «A Year From Easter» (ECM 2005)
Audun Kleive «Ohmagoddable» (Jazzland/Universal 2004)
Endresen/Wallumrød/Sten «Merriwinkle» (Jazzland/Universal 2004)
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble «Sofienberg Variations» (ECM 2003)
Audun Kleive «Generator» (Jazzland 2000)
C.W, Henriksen, Bang, Honoré «Birth Wish»(PanM/BMG 2000)
Close Erase "No. 2" (NORCD 1999)
Christian Wallumrød Trio «No Birch» (ECM 1998)
Christian appears on the following SOFA-releases
- No Spaghetti Edition «Sketches of a fusion» (piano)