Knut Kristiansen

Knut Johan Bratland Kristiansen (born 14 April 1946) is a Norwegian composer and jazz musician (piano), known from Bergen jazz life primarily for his many interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk as orchestra leader his own bands with various number of musicians involved.

Career In his native town of Bergen, Kristiansen played with Mette Rongved (vocals), Sture Janson (bass), established several jazz orchestras (including "Bergen Big Band"), made compositions for plays at the theater Den Nationale Scene, held a variety of courses and seminars, and got the Bergen County Council Cultural Prize in 1978.

Kristiansen led the "Monk Memorial" series on the Kongsberg Jazz Festival (1987) og Nattjazz (1989), and led a Big Band on the album Monk Moods. He performed the show "A tribute to Monk" at the Oslo Jazz Festival 1997. 1995: Monk moods (Odin Records) 2004: Blues For Ell (Dravle Records) 2016: Kuria Suite (Grappa Music), with Bergen Big Band