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Frank Carlberg

Pianist, composer Frank Carlberg is a native of Helsinki, Finland. Following some years of classical studies, he became interested in jazz after listening to his father’s recordings of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson. Initially, Carlberg tried to imitate the players of the records and then took some lessons from local jazz musicians. In 1984 Carlberg decided to enroll at Berklee College of Music in Boston. While at Berklee he played with fellow students such as Jim Black, Chris Cheek, Antonio Hart, Sam Newsome, Chris Speed, Ben Street, as well as faculty members Robert Freedman, George Garzone, Hal Crook, Herb Pomeroy and John LaPorta. During the summers, in between the academic years at Berklee, Carlberg toured in Europe extensively with various groups.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Berklee in 1990, Carlberg decided to continue his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music. While at the Conservatory, he came under the influence of jazz masters such as Paul Bley, Ran Blake, Geri Allen and Jimmy Giuffre. The music and thinking of these musicians had a profound impact on Carlberg and set him on a path in search of a personal expression. Carlberg received a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory in 1992.

It was in 1992 that Carlberg finally released Blind Drive (Accurate Records)--his first recording as a leader. This was a trio effort featuring Ben Street on bass and Michael Sarin on drums with a program consisting of mostly original compositions. It was through this recording that Carlberg’s music initially caught the attention of the critics. Jon Andrews describes the CD in DownBeat as “sophisticated, approachable music played with both freedom and discipline”. Carlberg’s next recording, Ugly Beauty (Northeastern Records), was a duo recording with vocalist Christine Correa. This was to be the first of many collaborations. Ugly Beauty was a mix of folk music (Indian and Finnish) as well as free improvisations, original compositions and jazz repertoire reflecting the eclecticism and influence of Ran Blake. Paul Robicheau writes in the Boston Globe that “…it would be hard to find an album as gorgeous and sophisticated as Ugly Beauty”.

The second release on Accurate Records, The Crazy Woman, was of particular importance for Carlberg’s artistic development, as he began his extended quest in setting music to poetry. The material consisted of 11 original songs composed to texts by 20th century poets such as Jack Kerouac, Anselm Hollo and Anna Akhmatova. The recording featured a quintet format(voice/sax/piano/bass/drums), which was to become the core of several future projects. Dan Ouellette praises this CD in DownBeat as “...both a romp and a haunt, joyful and grey, The Crazy Woman streams with nourishing beauty”.

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4
Album Review

Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: Elegy for Thelonious

Read "Elegy for Thelonious" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Pianist Frank Carlberg has been exploring the music of Thelonious Monk for some time, most specifically on his large group album, Monk Dreams, Hallucinations, and Nightmares, (Sunnyside, 2017). This new album has Carlberg returning to the large ensemble format for more Monk investigations, but this time approaching the work in a more splintered and abstract fashion. He does not simply interpret familiar Monk tunes. He writes compositions and arrangements which stitch Monk riffs and ideas into new fabrics, ...

5
Album Review

Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: Elegy for Thelonious

Read "Elegy for Thelonious" reviewed by Mark Corroto


There was a sardonic saying circulating a few years ago that observed, “It's Frank Sinatra's world, we just live in it." While that was a backhanded compliment, tailoring it to the subject of this large ensemble recording, we would call it a commendation. Pianist, composer, and conductor Frank Carlberg is telling us, “It's Thelonious Monk's world, and (thank god) we live in it." Carlberg has been a disciple of Monk for decades, recording his music in a piano trio format ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Frank Carlberg, Karl Evangelista & Benoit Delbecq

Read "Frank Carlberg, Karl Evangelista & Benoit Delbecq" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


Thelonious Monk has always been a magnet for jazz pianists. Frank Carlberg's fascination with the mysterious Monk has led to a second recording with his large ensemble. It's called Elegy For Thelonious. San Francisco guitarist Karl Evangelista is one who tends to fly under the radar, but his recent What Else Is There?, recorded in Chicago, with Alexander Hawkins--piano, Tatsu Aoki--bass and Michael Zerang--drums might just change that. French pianist Benoit Delbecq has few peers and the much-awaited Triple Fever ...

7
Album Review

Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra: Open Spaces

Read "Open Spaces" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The subtitle of this album is “Folk Songs Reimagined" and Daniel Hersog uses a very liberal meaning for the term “folk song" here. He includes traditional folk songs on this album, in addition to familiar tunes by Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot and his own folk-based compositions. All are given a glistening polish in the sweeping cinematic arrangements which he writes for his orchestra, and are further enhanced by excellent solo work from a number of musicians. Hersog's ...

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Album Review

Daniel Hersog: Open Spaces

Read "Open Spaces" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Locked down and socially distanced during the pandemic, composer-arranger Daniel Hersog had an interesting idea: rearrange some well-known and well-loved folk songs, most with Canadian roots, for jazz orchestra and throw in a handful of his own original compositions with a folk-tune ambience. The result is Open Spaces: Folk Songs Reimagined, the sophomore album by Hersog's Vancouver-based ensemble. As on his debut recording, Night Devoid of Stars (Cellar Music, 2020), Hersog welcomes a number of talented guest ...

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Album Review

Frank Carlberg Trio: Reflections 1952

Read "Reflections 1952" reviewed by Mark Corroto


How does one approach a Thelonious Monk tribute recording? Does the pianist sound like Monk? Truthfully, it is rare for a musician to replicate the high priest of bebop's distinctive and eccentric sound. Walter Davis Jr. could, but most other attempts are easily exposed as forgeries. The finest tributes are the ones that originate with the musician's language, like the South American sounds of Danilo Perez' Panamonk (Impulse!, 1996), Steve Lacy's soprano saxophone interpretations or guitarist Miles Okazaki's covers. Add ...

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Album Review

Frank Carlberg/Gabriel Bolaños: Charity and Love

Read "Charity and Love" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


While Frank Carlberg certainly rises to great heights in large-group settings, some of the pianist's most absorbing and thought-provoking work has been built around the intimacy of the duo. Whether we're talking about intrigue-laced meetings with fellow Finn (and drumming great) Klaus Suonsaari, a ballad set featuring tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger, some two-piano play with Ran Blake or a delightfully open dalliance with vocalist Christine Correa, the nature of pairings typically proves fruitful for Carlberg. Charity and Love, bringing him ...

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Recording

Red Piano Records To Release The Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: "Monk Dreams, Hallucinations And Nightmares"

Red Piano Records To Release The Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: "Monk Dreams, Hallucinations And Nightmares"

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

RED PIANO RECORDS TO RELEASE THE FRANK CARLBERG LARGE ENSEMBLE: Monk Dreams, Hallucinations And Nightmares Available February 10, 2017 The Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble is: Kirk Knuffke, John Carlson, Dave Smith, Jonathan Powell- trumpets; Alan Ferber, Brian Drye, Chris Washburn, Max Seeigel- trombones; John O'Gallagher, Jeremy Udden, Sam Sadigursky, Adam Kolker, Brian Landrus- saxophones; Christine Correa- voice; Frank Carlberg- piano, Johannes Weidenmueller- bass, Michael Sarin- drums; JC Sanford- conductor “Frank Carlberg is pushing boundaries ...

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Recording

Red Piano Records To Release The New Recording From Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg - Word Circus

Red Piano Records To Release The New Recording  From Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg - Word Circus

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

RED PIANO RECORDS To Release The New Recording From Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg - Word Circus Featuring Frank Carlberg with Christine Correa, John O'Gallagher, Pascal Niggenkemper & Michael Sarin Available November 13, 2015 Frank Carlberg Appearances: This Saturday, October 17th: Frank Carlberg's WORD CIRCUS Sound It Out Series, Greenwich House, NYC October 21st: Roxana Amed/Frank Carlberg La Sombra De Su Sombra @ Consulate General of Argentina in NYC November 19th: Frank Carlberg's WORD CIRCUS Cornelia ...

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Recording

Red Piano Records To Release "Cosmopolitan Greetings" From Frank Carlberg/Joe Morris/Pascal Niggenkemper/Luther Gray

Red Piano Records To Release "Cosmopolitan Greetings" From Frank Carlberg/Joe Morris/Pascal Niggenkemper/Luther Gray

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Available October 16, 2015 Brooklyn-based Red Piano Records is proud to announce the release of Cosmopolitan Greetings, a collective effort by four veterans of the improvised music scene. This album marks the recorded debut of this quartet, with a line up featuring guitar legend Joe Morris, pianist/composer Frank Carlberg, bass wizard Pascal Niggenkemper and unsung drum master Luther Gray, in a program of three Carlberg compositions, and three collective improvisations. In the liner notes Carlberg describes the genesis of Cosmopolitan ...

1

Recording

Red Piano Records To Release The Debut Recording From: Pianists/Composers Frank Carlberg & Leo Genovese Shadows And Reflections

Red Piano Records To Release The Debut Recording From: Pianists/Composers Frank Carlberg & Leo Genovese Shadows And Reflections

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Available on April 21, 2015 Brooklyn-based Red Piano Records is proud to announce the release of Shadows and Reflections from pianists/composers Frank Carlberg and Leo Genovese. The recording sessions for this album came about in an atmosphere of friendship, common musical interests, and in anticipation of great fun. Carlberg (also a partner in Red Piano Records) commented, “I've known Leo for many years and have always admired his playing and attitude. Playing with him is very easy and always fun!" ...

Event

New England Conservatory's Jazz Studies Department Presents October Events With Three Of Its Most Noted Piano Faculty: Jason Moran, Frank Carlberg, and Fred Hersch

New England Conservatory's Jazz Studies Department Presents  October Events With Three Of Its Most Noted Piano Faculty: Jason Moran, Frank Carlberg, and Fred Hersch

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

Some of New England Conservatory’s top jazz piano faculty — Jason Moran, Fred Hersch and Frank Carlberg — will give workshops or concerts at NEC in October. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, log on to necmusic.edu or call 617-585-1260. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Pianist Jason Moran, Pierce Hall Pianist Moran, a MacArthur Fellow called “the most provocative thinker in current jazz" by Rolling Stone magazine, visits NEC each year for teaching residencies ...

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Recording

Frank Carlberg's Piano and Compositions Come to the Forefront in "Uncivilized Ruminations"

Frank Carlberg's Piano and Compositions Come to the Forefront in "Uncivilized Ruminations"

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Frank Carlberg is not just a new jazz sort of fellow. He's doing something actually rather new. If you start with the sort of angular abstractions Steve Lacy and Irene Aebi used to do, you get a stepping off point for where the music on Uncivilized Ruminations (RPR Red Piano Records) begins. Unfortunately the graphic design of the CD jacket makes whatever is on it unreadable, a too common result when there is no art director around to tell you ...

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Recording

Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg's Cinematic "Tivoli Trio" Available March 30 on Red Piano Records

Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg's Cinematic "Tivoli Trio" Available March 30 on Red Piano Records

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

With bassist John Hebert and drummer Gerald Cleaver

With the release of Tivoli Trio, his remarkable new CD on the Red Piano Records label, pianist-composer Frank Carlberg has, with the incalculable support of his stellar accompanists, New Orleansian John Hebert on bass and the great Gerald Cleaver on drums, taken his place in the first rank of contemporary jazz masters, as both composer and performer.

The word “Tivoli" conjures up for many the mysteries and excitement, magic and otherworldliness of ...

Stratøs
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Elegy for Thelonious

Sunnyside Records
2024

buy

Open Spaces

Cellar Music
2023

buy

Reflections 1952

577 Music
2022

buy

Charity and Love

Red Piano Records
2021

buy

Night Devoid of Stars

Cellar Records
2020

buy

Gray Moon

Red Piano Records
2020

buy

Shenandoah

From: Open Spaces
By Frank Carlberg

Cloud Break

From: Night Devoid of Stars
By Frank Carlberg

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