Frode Gjerstad


Frode Gjerstad is a Norwegian jazz musician with alto saxophone as principal instrument, but he also plays other saxophones, clarinet, and flute. He has collaborated with Paal Nilssen-Love, Borah Bergman, Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Terje Isungset, William Parker, Sabir Mateen, John Stevens, Johnny Dyani, Kent Carter, and since 1979 has contributed to more than 50 recordings.

Career

Gjerstad played in the trio Detail together with the British drummer John Stevens, in the period 1981–1994, and they released fourteen albums. Other members of the band were the pianist Eivin One Pedersen and the mega bassist's Johnny Dyani or Kent Carter.
In 1985, he initiated "Circulasione Totale Orchestra", a band with varying lineups, where young musicians, mostly from Stavanger, could get a chance. To the Moldejazz 1989 he composed the commissioned work Dancemble which was performed by a 13-man version of the band. The band was active until 1995 and produced three recordings. In 1998, the band reemerged and released the album Borealis.
He also collaborated with numerous musicians in various small groups, which has resulted in several albums, tours and festival recordings in Norway, United States and Europe. The most long-lasting partnership in recent years is the current issue of Gjerstad Trio where he plays with drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and bassist Øyvind Storesund. They debuted at Nattjazz in Bergen 1999 and have released five albums.

Honors

Solo albums

;Frode Gjerstad and the Circulasione Totale Orchestra
;With John Stevens, Derek Bailey
;With Terje Isungset
;With Peter Brötzmann
;With John Edwards & Mark Sanders
;With Derek Bailey
;With Steve Hubback
;With Lasse Marhaug
;With Paul Hession
;With Kevin Norton
;With Anders Hana, Morten Olsen, Per Zanussi
;With Sabir Mateen
;With John Stevens
;With Nils Henrik Asheim
;With Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut - The Organic Plastic Band
;With Daniel Carter, Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut
;With Eivind One Pedersen, Kevin Norton
;With Fred Lonberg-Holm
;With Paal Nilssen-Love
;With William Parker & Hamid Drake
;With John Edwards / Mark Sanders
;With Nick Stephens
;With Skaset _ Tafjord _ Mølstad _ Moe
;With Luis Conte
;Within Detail
;In trio with Rashid Bakr and William Parker
;With John Stevens
;With Peter Brötzmann
;With Borah Bergman
;With Jeffrey Shurdut
;With Lasse Marhaug
;With Bobby Bradford
;With Bennink
;With Sabir Mateen feat. Steve Swell
;With Motland / Lonberg-Holm / Solberg
;With Fred Lonberg-Holm
;With Louis Moholo