Mats Eilertsen

Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, Sverre Gjørvad, Nymark Collective, SKRUK, «Jazzmob», «Dingobats», Håkon Kornstad Trio, Food with Iain Ballamy, Jacob Young Band, Solveig Slettahjell's Slow Motion Orchestra, Håvard Wiik Trio, and «JazzCode».

Career Eilertsen was born in Trondheim and attended the Trondheim Musikkonservatorium, where he participated in the Jazz program and was part of the Jazz band Dingobats along with fellow students Eirik Hegdal (saxophones), Njål Ølnes (tenor saxophone), Thomas Dahl (guitar) and Sverre Gjørvad (drums), primarily playing Hegdals compositions. He has two band releases as leader of the band Turanga, with band members Fredrik Ljungkvist, Ernst Reijseger, and Thomas Strønen. He also performed with the quartet «Parish», with some of the same members as of «Turanga». In 2006, he released the album Constellations (Jazzaway Records), with the Finnish pianist Alexi Tuomarila's trio, along with Olavi Luohivuori. Rubicon, Eilertsen's commission for Vossajazz 2014, with Thomas Dahl, Trygve Seim, Olavi Louhivuori, Harmen Fraanje, Rob Waring and Eirik Hegdal. Mats Eilertsen and Per Oddvar Johansen at the 2016 Nattjazz in Bergen, Norway.

Honors 2002: Kongsberg Jazz Award, within Håkon Kornstad Trio

Discography

Solo albums 2005: Turanga (Aim Records), with Turanga (voted this year's release of the Japanese jazz magazine Music Magazine) 2006: Flux (Aim Records), with Turanga 2009: Radio Yonder (Hubro Music), with Tore Brunborg, Olavi Louhivuori, and Thomas T. Dahl 2016: Rubicon (ECM Records), with Eirik Hegdal, Thomas T Dahl, Trygve Seim, Harmen Fraanje, and Olavi Louhivuori (commission for the 2014 Vossajazz) 2019: Reveries and Revelations (Hubro Music), with Thomas Strønen Arve Henriksen Eivind Aarset Geir Sundstøl and Per Oddvar Johansen 2021: Hymn for Hope (Hemli), with Thomas Dahl: guitar; Tore Brunborg: saxophone; Hans Hulbækmo: drums

SkyDive Trio 2011: SkyDive (Hubro Music) 2015: Sun Moee (Hubro Music)

Mats Eilertsen Trio including with Harmen Fraanje and Thomas Strønen 2013: Sails Set (Hubro Music) 2019: And Then Comes the Night (ECM)

Collaborations Within Dingobats 1998: The New Dingobats Generation 2002: Pöck (Bergland Productions), which featured Live Maria Roggen (vocals) 2004: Follow (Jazzaway Records)

Within Food (Iain Ballamy, Arve Henriksen & Thomas Strønen) 2000: Food (Feral Records) 2001: Organic and GM Food (Feral Records) 2002: Veggie (Rune Grammofon) 2004: Last Supper (Rune Grammofon)

Within Håvard Wiik Trio 2003: Postures (Jazzland Acoustic)

With Jacob Young 2004: Evening Falls (ECM) 2008: Sideways (ECM)

Alexi Tuomarila Trio (Olavi Louhivuori) 2006: Constellation (Jazzaway - JARCD 030) 2013: Seven Hills (Edition Records - EDN1041) 2017: Kingdom (Edition Records - EDN1090)

Within Tord Gustavsen Ensemble/Quartet 2009: Restored, Returned (ECM Records) 2012: The Well (ECM Records) 2014: Extended Circle (ECM Records)

With Yelena Eckemoff 2012: Forget-me-not (L & H Production)

With Tuva Halse's Bento Box Trio 2024: Somehow I Lost My Way (Fjordgata Records)

Compilation projects 2007: Short Stories (Aim Records) with Frode Haltli and Torbjørn Dyrud 2010: Elegy (Hubro) with Harmen Fraanje and Thomas Strønen