Carl Petter Opsahl (b. 1964, Oslo, Norway) clarinet, bass clarinet, composer
Cloud of Unknowing is the third single from Carl Petter Opsahl’s new album to be released in November. Inspired by nature and Celtic spirituality. Opsahl’s last album, “Mystery of Listening” broke new ground as a solo bass clarinet album, featuring the whole range of this beautiful instrument. His trio offering “Kyrkja” (2022) – with Oddrun Lilja and Ellen Brekken – received international acclaim and was hot-listed by Europe Jazz Network as one of the best jazz albums of 2022.
Carl Petter Opsahl is one of the most original and prolific clarinet players coming from Norway. Equally at home in jazz and traditional Norwegian folk music, his art is a unique blend of tradition and innovation, flowing from deep spiritual sources. He has collaborated and recorded with artists such as Wendell Brunious, Tord Gustavsen Jon Christensen, Henry Kaiser, David Lindley, Anders Rogg, Zotora, Jokke & Valentinerne, Åsmund Reistad and Jo Asgeir Lie Beginning his professional career in 1982, he started out in the New Orleans tradition, living in New Orleans for a while playing the city’s jazz musicians and brass bands. He studied traditional music from Gudbrandsdalen with master fiddler Aslak Brimi at the Ole Bull Academy in Voss. his music in later years are strongly influenced by rythms and colors derived from this tradition. Carl Petter Opsahl is a founding member of Caledonia Jazzband and Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag and is a honorary citizen of New Orleans.
Here is a selection of Carl Petter Opsahl’s finest work: