Ketil Bjornstad - The World I Used To Know (2019)

On the occasion of his 50th anniversary as a pianist, the Norwegian musician and writer releases his new album "The World I Used to Know", which he recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. With his decision for a change of location in contrast to his previous recordings, Ketil Bjørnstad wanted to face a new challenge

The storied studios contributed significantly to the creation of the music with their energy. He wanted to give free rein to improvisation, but at the same time show his best possible music. In the studio itself, Bjørnstad revealed an unexpected sense of nervousness, but with the sound of the piano, an unprecedented ease of completely isolating himself from the environment and focusing only on his piano

The pieces are taken from both his past and present, memories of Bjørnstad's childhood as well as compositions that accompany him as a pianist.
Reviews

"'The World I Used To Know' contains typical Bjørnstad material - elegiac, solemn, somehow festive, hymnal music that eschews dexterity and devotes itself entirely to the clarity and power of a melody." (Jazz thing, February/March 2020)