Frode Gjerstad

Frode Gjerstad (born 24 March 1948) 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 (1981–82) and the mega bassist's Johnny Dyani (1981–1986) or Kent Carter (1987–1994).

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 1996: Jazz Musician of the Year by "Foreningen norske jazzmusikere" 2008: "Buddyprisen" 2010: "Stavanger kommunes kulturpris"

Discography

Solo albums 1998: Ism (Circulasione Totale)

As front man Frode Gjerstad and the Circulasione Totale Orchestra 1998: Borealis (Cadence)

With John Stevens, Derek Bailey 2001: Hello Goodbye (Emanem)

With Terje Isungset 2002: Shadows and Light (FMR)

With Peter Brötzmann 2003: Soria Moria (FMR)

With John Edwards & Mark Sanders 2003: The Welsh Chapel (Cadence)

With Derek Bailey 2003: Nearly A D (Emanem)

With Steve Hubback 2003: Demystify (FMR) 2005: One Foot Moving (Utech)

With Lasse Marhaug 2003: Tou (FMR)

With Paul Hession 2004: May Day (FMR)

With Kevin Norton 2004: No Definitive (FMR) 2011: Tipples (FMR) with David Watson 2013: Live Tipple (FMR) with David Watson

With Anders Hana, Morten Olsen, Per Zanussi 2003: Born To Collapse (Circulasione Totale)

With Sabir Mateen 2005: Good Question (FMR)

With John Stevens 2005: Keep On Playing (FMR)

With Nils Henrik Asheim 2005: The Shortest Night (FMR)

With Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut - The Organic Plastic Band 2006: We Are As Organic As Cars (Nolabel)

With Daniel Carter, Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut 2006: Behind the White Fences (Nolabel)

With Eivind One Pedersen, Kevin Norton 2006: The Walk (FMR)

With Fred Lonberg-Holm 2006: The Cello Quartet (FMR), including with Amit Sen, Paal Nilssen-Love - The Cello Quartet 2010: Sugar Maple (FMR), including with Michael Zerang 2011: Tistel (FMR)

With Paal Nilssen-Love 2007: Day Before One (Tyyfus) 2010: Gromka (Not Two) 2012: Side By Side (CIMP)

With William Parker & Hamid Drake 2008: On Reade Street (FMR)

With John Edwards / Mark Sanders 2009: Bergen (FMR)

With Nick Stephens 2012: Different Times (Loose Torque)

With Skaset _ Tafjord _ Mølstad _ Moe 2013: Deichman (Conrad Sound)

With Luis Conte 2013: Mirrors Edges (FMR)

Collaborations Within Detail 1983: Backwards and Forwards / Forwards And Backwards (Impetus Records), with Johnny Dyani and John Stevens

In trio with Rashid Bakr and William Parker 1996: Seeing New York From The Ear (Cadence)

With John Stevens 1996: Sunshine (Impetus)

With Peter Brötzmann 1999: Invisible Touch (Cadence )

With Borah Bergman 2003: Rivers in Time (FMR)

With Jeffrey Shurdut 2004: Everything Is Divisible By 1 (Nolabel)

With Lasse Marhaug 2004: Red Edge (CD) Breathmint, Carbon Records, Little Mafia Records, Sunship Records, Gameboy Records 2004

With Bobby Bradford 2009: Reknes (Circulasione Totale), including with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten + Paal Nilssen-Love 2012: Kampen (NoBusiness), including with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love 2012: Dragon (PNL), including with Paal Nilssen-Love 2014: Silver Cornet (Nessa), including with Ingebrigt Håken Flaten, and Frank Rosaly

With Bennink 2009: Han & Frode (Cadence)

With Sabir Mateen feat. Steve Swell 2010: Sound Gathering (Not Two )

With Motland / Lonberg-Holm / Solberg 2011: VC/DC (Hispid)

With Fred Lonberg-Holm 2014: Life On Sandpaper (FMR)

With Louis Moholo 2014: Sult (FMR) 2015: Distant Groove (FMR), including with Nick Stephens, Fred Lonberg-Holm