TORD GUSTAVSEN

With the release of his first recording in 2003 entitled "Changing Places," Norway’s Tord Gustavsen came forth with a new sound that commanded worldwide attention, an extraordinary achievement given the rich history of jazz piano. Playing only that which says something and leaving space for listeners to savor it, his bands unite beauty and emotional intensity, touching souls in a way that many describe as spiritual. “For me, playing the piano is very similar to a meditation or prayer,” he says. “It’s about opening up to the forces of beauty and transcendence.”