Biography
Born in Kongsberg, Norway, in 1971, pianist and composer Christian Wallumrød took up the instrument at twelve. Jazz had claimed his focus by the time he reached fifteen, shaping his training at the Trondheim music conservatory. Professional work began in 1993 alongside guitarist Jon Eberson, though after 1997 his own projects drew the notice of ECM Records founder Manfred Eicher. The label issued No Birch in 1998 under the Christian Wallumrød Trio name. Five years later the Christian Wallumrød Ensemble delivered Sofienberg Variations, with Nils Økland on violin, Arve Henriksen on trumpet, Per Oddvar Johansen on drums, and tenor sax contributions from Trygve Seim on two pieces. A Year from Easter followed in 2005, by which point Gjermund Larsen had taken over violin duties while cellist Tanja Orning and harpist Giovanna Pessi joined the lineup. The group cultivates a restrained, atmospheric blend of pop-jazz and classical elements marked by John Cage-inspired experiments—Wallumrød extracts unusual mileage from toy pianos—without tipping into new-age territory. The Zoo Is Far appeared on ECM in 2007. Wallumrød also performs in the trio Close Erase with bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen, and maintains a separate trio featuring vocalist Elin Rosseland and bassist Johannes Eick. Since 2002 he has collaborated regularly with Sidsel Endresen, resulting in the 2004 release Merriwinkle.
Albums
Singles
