Carsten Dahl (born 3 October 1967) is a Danish pianist.
Early life Dahl was born in Copenhagen on 3 October 1967. His first instrument was the drums, which he began playing at the age of nine. He taught himself both drums and piano, then studied both at Det Rytmiske Musikkonservatorium in Copenhagen. Dahl said that, "As a pianist, I am greatly influenced by Jørgen Nielsen and later, Butch Lacy who had a significant impact on my musical identity both as a mentor, icon and spiritual teacher."
Later life and career Dahl turned professional in 1982. He was part of tenor saxophonist Thomas Agergaard's quartet from 1991 and drummer Ed Thigpen's Rhythm Features band from 1998. Dahl also led the rhythmic department of the West Jutland Academy of Music, Esbjerg, from 1992 to 1996 and taught at Det Rytmiske Musikkonservatorium for the following two years, and again for five years from 2011. He taught piano at the Danish Rhythmic Conservatory between 2012 and 2015, but said that he resigned because his "spiritual and highly religious approach to understanding what art really is caused certain conflicts with the general idea of the schools programmes".
By 2022, Dahl had played on approximately 300 albums. He is also a painter. He said in 2020: "My pictures vary from the almost golden age of painting yet set in a modern context to specifically complex abstractions."
Discography
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1996Will You Make My Soup Hot & SilverStoryvilleTrio, with Lennart Ginman (bass), Frands Rifbjerg (drums, percussion)1996–2003Solo PianoStuntSolo piano1998Message from BudStoryvilleTrio, with Lennart Ginman (bass), Frands Rifbjerg (drums)1999The Butterfly DreamStoryvilleSolo piano2000?Lys På HimlenDacapoDuo, co-led with Christina Dahl (soprano sax)2000Jazzpar 2000 QuintetStoryvilleQuintet, with Jörg Huke (trombone), Tony Coe (tenor sax, clarinet), Lars Danielsson (bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums); in concert2002The SignStuntwith Arild Andersen, Patrice Heral2003Moon WaterStuntTrio, with Arild Andersen (bass), Patrice Heral (drums)2003?The Library Bar ConcertsVervewith Lennart Ginman, Thomas Blachman2004Copenhagen-AarhusEdgeSolo piano2004?Blue TrainMarshmallowTrio, with Lennart Ginman, Frands Rifbjerg2005?Ginman/Blachman/Dahl!Universalwith Lennart Ginman, Thomas Blachman2005–2007In Your Own Sweet WayStoryvilleTrio, co-led with Mads Vinding (bass), Alex Riel (drums)2006?God Bless the ChildMarshmallowwith Lennart Ginman, Frands Rifbjerg, Bob Rockwell2006?Charlie ButterflyStuntDuo, with Allan Vegenfeldt2006?Det gyldne landskabPrivatewith Christina Dahl2006?Short FairytalesEmArcywith Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen2006?Tribute to Night TrainPloug Partnership2007A Good TimeStoryvilleTrio, with Lennart Ginman (bass), Frands Rifbjerg (drums); in concert2007?Bebopish Rubbish RabbitMarshmallowTrio, with Lennart Ginman, Frands Rifbjerg2008?Minor MeetingGrave NewsTrio, with Jesper Lundgaard, Alex Riel2008HumilitasStoryvilleQuartet, with Jesper Zeuthen (alto sax), Nils Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums)2010EffataStoryvilleSolo piano2011?Synesthesia & MetropolisExlibrisWith Ensemble MidtVest2011MetamorphosisStoryvilleQuartet, with Jesper Zeuthen (alto sax), Nils Davidsen (bass, percussion, flute), Stefan Pasborg (drums, percussion)2011Live at MontmartreStoryvilleDuo, co-led with Eddie Gómez (bass); in concert2011Space Is the PlaceStoryvilleTrio, with Arild Andersen (bass), Jon Christensen (drums)2012Live at SMKILKDuo, co-led with Stefan Pasborg (drums); in concert2012DreamchildStoryvilleSolo piano2012SoliluquyExlibrisWith Ensemble MidtVest; in concert2013Under the RainbowStoryvilleTrio, with Arild Andersen (bass), Jon Christensen (drums)2013ReverentiaStoryvilleQuartet, with Jesper Zeuthen (alto sax), Nils Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums)2013?PapillonTigerSolo piano2014?Bach – The Goldberg Variations for Prepared PianoTigerSolo piano2014The Myth & the MothTigerSolo piano2015?GraceTigerSolo piano2016CaleidoscopiaStoryvilleQuartet, with Jesper Zeuthen (alto sax), Nils Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums)2016The JesterExlibrisSolo harpsichord2016LiveStoryvilleQuartet, with Jesper Zeuthen (alto sax), Nils Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums); in concert2016SimplicityStoryvilleTrio, with Lennart Ginman (bass), Frands Rifbjerg (drums)2019Painting MusicACTTrio, with Nils Bo Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums)2019The Solo Songs of Keith JarrettStoryvilleWith Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet), Fredrik Lundin (sax), Nils Bo Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums), Ana Feitosa and Matthew Jones (violin), Sanna Ripatti (viola), Jonathan Slaatto (cello); in concert2019Mirrors WithinStoryvilleTrio, with Nils Bosse Davidsen (bass), Stefan Pasborg (drums)2021?SagnStoryvilleSolo piano2021A Beautiful Blue MomentStoryvilleQuartet, with Tim Hagans (trumpet), Johnny Åman (bass), Jukkis Uotila (drums); in concert
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel1994–95Cross CurrentStunt1996–98A Tribute to LoveStunt1998It's EntertaintmentStunt1999Six Hands, Three Minds, One HeartStunt2001The Element of SwingStunt2002First ConversationBlue Note2002Live at Tivoli CopenhagenStunt2003Forever YouStunt2017StandardsStoryville
References
External links Official site