Espen Berg is a musician who’s interested in rhythm as much as melody. The pianist and composer hails from Norway, and he’s been studying jazz since he was 16 (though he began playing and writing his own songs from age 6). Throughout, he immersed himself in many genres outside of jazz, and reinventing his favorites in his own style.

While earning his Master’s degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, he formed his first trio, Listen!, with saxophonist Bendik Giske and Daniel Herskedal on tuba. Listen! toured throughout Europe, Asia, and the States and played other dates in Cuba, and even Syria. The trio released its eponymous debut in 2007 and followed up with II in 2009.

Changing direction, Berg released two solo albums, Noctilucent (2012) and Acres of Blue (2013), then forming a new trio with bassist Bárður Reinert Poulsen and drummer Simon Olderskog Albertsen. The Espen Berg Trio became the focal point of his endeavors, releasing four albums. That hasn’t stopped him from other collaborations. In 2016 he was commissioned to write a composition for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra called Maetrix. A recording of that piece has finally been released. All About Jazz Chris May writer has praised “Berg's multilayered suite navigates its complexity without fuss, made approachable by warm melodies and sumptuous harmonies.” It’s no wonder that Espen Berg continues to be a major player in the Nordic Jazz scene.

THE JAZZ CAFE

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