Carl Petter Opsahl (born 31 May 1964 in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

, Norway) is a Norwegian priest, jazz musician and journalist.

Career

Opsahl was involved in the establishment of "Caledonia Jazzband" (1982) and toured in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

(1983), whereupon he settled there and played in the "All Star Brass Band" (1986). Later he established the

Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag (CNS), more commonly known as simply Chateau Neuf, is a Norwegian folk music band that is experimenting with different musical styles. The band was formed in 1994 at the University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; ...

(1992–2002) and "Soulfood" (former "Creole Quartet"), together with Christian Frank (bass), Bjørn Olufsen (drums) and Wollert Krohn-Hansen (piano). He released his debut solo album ''Indigodalen'' (2001) with self-composed

traditional folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

where he collaborated with

Tord Gustavsen Tord Gustavsen (born 5 October 1970) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer. He tours extensively worldwide, and he has been a bandleader for a trio, ensemble and quartet at various times, all bearing his name. Early life Gustavsen was born on ...

, Åsmund Reistad,

Ingar Zach Ingar Zach (born 29 June 1971 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian percussionist and businessman, known from several recordings. Career In the 1990s Zach played within Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag and 'Harnihomba', while studying music at the Univer ...

and Eline Monrad Vistven. It was followed by ''Improvisions'' containing melodic

free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians during ...

recorded at the 'Sister Churches' in Gran (2005). In 2008 he released the album ''Love, the Blues'' together with

and the drummer

Jon Christensen Jon Christensen may refer to: * Jon Christensen (musician) Jon Ivar Christensen (20 March 1943 – 18 February 2020) was a Norwegian jazz drummer. He was married to actress, minister, and theater director Ellen Horn, Store Norske Leksikon (in ...

. Opsahl was central to the support measures for the city of New Orleans after the

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

(2005). Han er til daglig gateprest i

Kirkens Bymisjon Church City Mission (Norwegian: ''Kirkens Bymisjon'') is a diaconal foundation in Norway doing social work within alcohol care, elderly care, child welfare, mental health care and among prostitutes - as well as religious activities with pastoral ca ...

, samt jazzanmelder for

Verdens Gang ''Verdens Gang'' ("The course of the world"), generally known under the abbreviation ''VG'', is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper. In 2016, circulation numbers stood at 93,883, having declined from a peak circulation of 390,510 in 2002. ''VG'' is n ...

and received

Molderosen Molde International Jazz Festival (MIJF) or Moldejazz (established 1961 in Molde) takes place annually in July, and is known as one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It was initiated by the local Storyville Jazz Club. Since 1964 it has re ...

for this work. He has also taught jazz history at the

University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...

, as well as written the textbook ''En fortelling om jazz'' (A tale of jazz, 'Unipub' 2001), and is editor of the book ''En god dag. Fortellinger til inspirasjon og ettertanke'' (A good day. Stories of inspiration and reflection, 'JM Stenersens Forlag' 2009) and received a

Doctor's degree A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...

in theology 2012, with a thesis on spirituality and hip hop culture, "Dance to My Ministry: Exploring Hiphop Spirituality." In 2002–03 he was a visiting scholar at

Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

. Opsahl has written the melody of the hymn "Bortom tid og rom og tanke".

Discography (in selection)

Solo albums

*2001: ''Indigodalen'' ( Heilo) *2005: ''Improvisions'' (Park Grammofon) *2008: ''Love, The Blues'' (Park Grammofon)

Collaborations

;With Caledonia Jazzband *1987: ''Walkin (

Hot Club Records Hot Club Records is a jazz record label established 1982, by guitarist Jon Larsen in Oslo, Norway.Dregni, Michael (2008) ''Gypsy Jazz: In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing'', OUP USA, , p. 229 The label has released over 350 ...

), feat.

Wendell Brunious Wendell Brunious (born October 27, 1954, New Orleans) is an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. Born on October 27, 1954, Brunious was born into a Louisiana Creole family, the son of Nazimova "Chinee" Santiago and John "Picket" Brunious, Sr., ...

*2001: ''When The Saints'' (Hot Club Records), feat.

Geoff Bull Geoffrey Randolph Bull (born 26 May 1942, Sydney) is an Australian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. Bull played with the Melbourne New Orleans Jazz Band in 1961, then formed his own group, the Olympia Jazz Band, in Sydney; his sidemen included guit ...

*2009: ''Street People'' (Hot Club Records) ;With

*1995: ''Spell'' (Heilo) *1997: ''Tjuvgods'' (

Grappa Music Grappa Musikkforlag (established 1983 in Norway) is a Norwegian music company initiated and directed by Helge Westbye. It is one of the oldest and biggest independent record companies in Norway today. The company represents prominent Norwegian a ...

) *2001: ''Curing Norwegian Stiffness'' (Heilo) ;With Zotora *1998: ''Emigrate'' (Circular Recordings), on "Sargasso"

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Opsahl, Carl Petter Norwegian jazz clarinetists Norwegian jazz saxophonists Norwegian jazz composers Norwegian journalists University of Oslo alumni Musicians from Oslo Norwegian music critics Jazz writers 1964 births Living people 21st-century saxophonists 21st-century clarinetists