TRYGVE SEIM & ANDREAS UTNEM Norway

Trygve Seim is familiar to Estonian listeners primarily for his collaboration with the Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu. All around Europe he is mainly known as one of ECM’s favourite artists. Seim’s saxophone can be heard on 22 albums from the prestigious label, eight of which feature him as a bandleader or composer. At this year’s Christmas Jazz the saxophonist will perform new arrangements of old Christmas carols from a new duo album with pianist, composer and arranger Andreas Utnem. The two musicians have previously released another duo album, Purcor under the ECM label (2010).

Trygve Seim studied at the Trondheim Conservatory under several distinguished interpreters and has been working as a freelance musician, composer and arranger since 1992. His debut album, Different Rivers, released in 2001, won the prestigious German Record Critics’ Award. Seim collaborates with many renowned jazz musicians, including Manu Katché, Jacob Young, Sinikka Langeland, Iro Haarla, Fathy Salama, Jai Shankar and many others. Among his active ensembles is also the Trygve Seim Quartet, one of whose members is the internationally distinguished Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu. The quartet’s album, Helsinki Songs has received praising reviews.

Norwegian pianist, organist and composer Andreas Utnem has written music for theatre and television productions as well as films, and performs concerts as both pianist and organist. One of Utnem’s latest albums of reflective piano improvisations, Night Hymns (2017) was recorded in Oslo’s Tøyen Kirke – the church he has been closely associated with for many years.

We Thank: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Tallinn