Espen Aalberg

Espen Aalberg (born 12 October 1975) is a Norwegian jazz drummer. He is known for his work with ensemblels such as The Core, Shagma, Kwaz, and the Håvard Lund Quartet, as well as collaborations with musicians including Jonas Kullhammar, Håvard Wiik, and Torbjörn Zetterberg. Aalberg has also contributed to a number of recordings.

Career Aalberg performed with the Namsos percussion ensemble from 1988 to 1994, during which the group won national competitions in ensemble performance. He later studied at the conservatory in Tromsø and in the Jazz Program at the Trondheim Musikkonservatorium (1998–2000).

While in Trondheim, Aalberg co-founded the band The Core with fellow students Kjetil Møster, Erlend Slettevoll, and Steinar Raknes. In 2004 he established the ensemble Shagma with Jørgen Mathisen and Raknes. At the Nattjazz festival in Bergen in 2006, he led the group Kwaz, featuring Jonas Kullhammar, Håvard Wiik, and Torbjörn Zetterberg. He has also performed with the Håvard Lund Quartet.

In 2006, Aalberg and The Core collaborated with Indian musicians during a tour of India, later appearing at the Oslo World Music Festival under the name *The Indian Core*. The project resulted in the album The Indian Core (2007).

In addition to his work in jazz, Aalberg has performed as a percussionist with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Sinfonietta, and the Luftforsvarets Musikkorps.

Discography

As leader/co-leader Year Album Label With 2004 Vision Jazzaway The Core 2005 Music Jazzaway Shagma 2006 Blue Sky Jazzaway The Core 2007 The Indian Core Grappa The Indian Core (with Prasenjit Mitra, Kanchman Babbar, Fateh Ali) 2007 Office Essentials Jazzland The Core 2007 Meditations on Coltrane Grappa The Core & Bergen Big Band 2008 Golonka Love Moserobie The Core 2009 The Art of No Return, Vol. 1 Moserobie The Core & More 2010 Party Moserobie With Jonas Kullhammar and Kjetil Møster (recorded, mixed, and produced by Aalberg)

As sideman Year Album Label With 2008 Så rart Øra Trondheim Sinfonietta