Carl Petter Opsahl (born 31 May 1964 in

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) 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 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

, 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 (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

(1983), where he settled 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 (; ) is a public university, ...

(1992–2002) and Soulfood (formerly 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 ca ...

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 Univ ...

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

free jazz Free jazz, or free form in the early to mid-1970s, is a style of avant-garde jazz or an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventi ...

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

and the drummer Jon Christensen. Opsahl was central to the support measures for the city of New Orleans after

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...

(2005). Han er til daglig gateprest i Kirkens Bymisjon, samt jazzanmelder for

Verdens Gang (), generally known under the abbreviation ''VG'', is a Norway, Norwegian Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper. In 2016, circulation numbers stood at 93,883, declining from a peak circulation of 390,510 in 2002. Nevertheless, ''VG'' is ...

and received Molderosen for this work. He has taught jazz history at the

University of Oslo The University of Oslo (; ) is a public university, public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation#Europe, oldest university in Norway. Originally named the Royal Frederick Univ ...

. He wrote 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). He earned a

Doctor's degree A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''Licentiate (degree), licentia docendi' ...

in theology 2012, with a thesis on spirituality and

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

culture, "Dance to My Ministry: Exploring Hiphop Spirituality." In 2002–03 he was a visiting scholar at

Union Theological Seminary Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (shortened to UTS or Union) is a Private college, private ecumenical liberal Christian seminary in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, affiliated with Columbia University since 1928. Presently, Co ...

. Opsahl wrote 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 35 ...

), 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 *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 Norwegian saxophonists 21st-century Norwegian clarinetists