Photo: Jarvin, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pianists · b. 1952

Ketil Bjørnstad

Norwegian pianist, composer and author

Born: 25 April 1952
Oslo
Country: Norway
Record labels: ECM Records, Philips Records
Discography: 73 albums

Biography

Ketil Bjørnstad is a jazz musician who plays piano. Ketil Bjørnstad was born on 25 April 1952 in Oslo. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: ECM Records and Philips Records. The discography here lists 73 albums, from “Åpning” (1973) to “Evening Song (Aftensang)” (2025). Honours include Spellemann Award for instrumental record of the year (1974), Sarpsborgprisen (1978) and Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment (1989).

Ketil Bjørnstad (born 25 April 1952) is a Norwegian 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". He is an artist on the ECM record label, but has also published some twenty books, including novels, poetry, and essay collections. He has collaborated with other ECM artists, including cellists Svante Henryson and David Darling, drummer Jon Christensen, and guitarist Terje Rypdal.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

Åpning 1973 · Philips Berget Det Blå 1974 · Philips Tredje Dag 1975 · Philips Finnes du noensteds ikveld 1976 · Philips Musikk for en lang natt 1977 · Polydor Selena 1977 · Philips Leve Patagonia 1978 · Universal Music AS, Norway Svart Piano 1979 · Philips Tidevann 1980 · Philips 30-Årskrigen 1981 · Philips Bjørnstad/Paus/Hamsun 1982 · Hete Blikk Engler i sneen 1982 · Philips Aniara 1983 · Slagerfabrikken Mine dager i Paris 1984 · Hete Blikk Preludes, Vol. 1 1984 · Uniton Records Preludes, Vol. 2 1985 · Uniton Records Pianology 1989 · Hete Blikk Odyssey 1990 · Kirkelig Kulturverksted The Shadow 1990 · Kirkelig Kulturverksted Messe for en såret jord 1992 · Kirkelig Kulturverksted Water Stories 1993 · ECM Records

Lise Madsen, Moses og de andre 1994

The Sea 1995 · ECM Records

1996 ECM Concert in Taiwan 1996

Davidsalmer 1997

The River 1997 · ECM Records Nytt Liv - «The Rosenborg Tapes», Volum I 1998 · Tylden & Co The Sea II 1998 · ECM Records Himmelrand - Tusenårsoratoriet 1999 · BMG Norway Epigraphs 2000 · ECM Records Prelude 2000 Before the Light 2001 · November Music Grace 2001 · Live · EmArcy Old 2001 · EmArcy

Kildens bredd 2002

New Life 2002 · Universal Music AS, Norway The Nest 2003 · EmArcy

Love's Philosophy - Keats, Shelley, Byron 2004

Seafarer's Song 2004 · Universal Music AS, Norway

Solskinndypet 2004

Floating 2005 · EmArcy Rainbow Sessions 2006 · EmArcy Devotions 2007 · EmArcy

Coastlines 2008 · Live

Life in Leipzig 2008 · Live · ECM Records The Light: Songs of Love and Fear 2008 · ECM Records The Rainbow 2009 · EmArcy Remembrance 2010 · ECM Records Early Piano Music 2011 · Hubro Night Song 2011 · ECM Records Vinding's Music - Songs From the Alder Thicket 2012 · ECM Records La Notte 2013 · Live · ECM Records Sunrise (A Cantata On Texts By Edvard Munch) 2013 · ECM Records A Passion for John Donne 2014 · Live · ECM Records Bartók | Debussy | Ravel 2015 · Grappa Frolandia 2015 · Grappa Images 2015 · Grappa Shimmering 2015 · Grappa Sanger om tilhørighet 2016 · Live · Grappa A Suite of Poems 2018 · ECM Records Hun som kjenner tristheten ved ting 2018 · Grappa

Rainbow Sessions - New Edition 2019

The Beginning – and the End 2019 · Grappa The World I Used to Know 2019 · Grappa New Morning 2022 · Grappa Nightwalker 2023 · Grappa Musikkforlag AS Nightwalker (Fender Rhodes Version) 2023 · Grappa Musikkforlag AS

Evening Song (Aftensang) 2025

Hvalenes Sang · Grappa

Reisetid

The Bach Variations The River I - XII

«The Rosenborg Tapes» Volum 2 - 20 variasjoner over preludium & fuge i ciss-moll av Johan Sebastian Bach

Awards

1974 Spellemann Award for instrumental record of the year
1978 Sarpsborgprisen
1989 Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment
1998 Riksmål Society Literature Prize

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Ketil Bjørnstad play?

Ketil Bjørnstad is known for playing piano.

When and where was Ketil Bjørnstad born?

Ketil Bjørnstad was born 25 April 1952 in Oslo.

What are Ketil Bjørnstad's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Åpning (1973), Berget Det Blå (1974), Tredje Dag (1975), Finnes du noensteds ikveld (1976) and Musikk for en lang natt (1977).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.