Jazz breaking news: Christian Wallumrød Ensemble Tour Begins Next Week

Born in Norway in 1971 pianist Wallumrød, who grew up in Kongsberg and studied at the Trondheim Conservatory, was influenced early in his career by Paul Bley, along with contemporary classical composers including György Kurtág.

He debuted on ECM Records with the album No Birch released in 1996 and seven years later his Sofienberg Variations featuring an earlier incarnation of the CWE with Nils Økland, Arve Henriksen and Per Oddvar Johansen came out. Two years later A Year From Easter followed but The Zoo Is Far from 2007 marked a turning point, emphasised with the release of Fabula Suite Lugano two years ago.

Wallumrød’s ensemble has Wallumrød himself on piano, harmonium and toy piano plus trumpeter Eivind Lønning; violinist Gjermund Larsen (also on hardanger fiddle and viola); saxophonist Espen Reinertsen; cellist Tove Törngren; and drummer/vibes player Per Oddvar Johansen. Wallumrød over the years has worked extensively with the highly respected Norwegian jazz singer Sidsel Endresen and drummer Audun Kleive (known for his work with Terje Rypdal and Marilyn Mazur) and made an impact with the cult jazz-rock fusion group Close Erase, with The Thing’s Ingebrigt Haken Flaten, and Per Oddvar Johansen whose Bitches Brew-influenced Dance This was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in 2002.

After Gateshead the tour moves south to Kings Place, London (Saturday 22 Oct), then west to St George’s, Bristol (Monday 24 October), and north again firstly to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (Tuesday 25 October) and then Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York (26 October) to close the tour.

– Stephen Graham