My life as a musician and composer

I was born in Skien, Norway 1955. Started playing the piano at the age of 7, got interested in blues, rock and jazz in my teens, and have managed to make it my living since my early twenties. At first I was very much into acoustic modern jazz, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Paul Bley, In the 80´s I got interested in synthesizers and fusion jazz. Later I got back to my classical roots, trying to emulate classical music into a jazz format. And now, at the age of 70, I am not quite sure where I belong musically. It´s  so much great music out there, and I just want to be a part of it in my own way.
People will often describe my music as romantic and beautiful, melodic, atmospheric, but as a pianist and composer I try to create a certain logic, I want listeners to be able to follow my thoughts but  hopefully be a little bit surprised at some odd  turns in the music as well.
As a composer I have worked in a lot of different settings, from solo and duo format  through various combos to larger ensembles, big bands and even symphony orchestras. The high point of my career commercially was probably being band leader and arranger for Van Morrison at Vossajazz 1988. But there have been a lot of great moments. And still are!

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Discography: Combos

• Guttorm Guttormsen kvartett: Albufeira (1979)
• Cutting Edge: Alle tre (1982-86)
• Out to Lunch (1988)
• Out to Lunch: Kullboksrytter (1996)
Lonely Woman: Demons Diversions, Radegund, Lovely Luna (2006-15)
​Lush Life: Ordinary things..(2015)
Asmundsen& co: Pastor´n , Gnus (2015-20) 

Rune Klakegg trio

• Anaerobics (1992)
• Fuzzy Logic (1996)
• Romantic notions (2012)
• Klakegg Guttormsen Renvåg: “Nattevandrer” (2024)

Larger ensembles

• Søyr: Vectors, Bussene lengter hjem, Med kjøtt og kjærlighet, Alene hjemme (1987-2001)
• Scheen Jazzorkester: God tro, feil frakk (2011), Fjon (2016) -compositions and arrangements + Blåne, PoliturPassiarer, Tamanoar, Commuter Report, As we see it, Logical Fallacies and Framework (as a musician)

Duos:

• I will wait for you - w/ Elin Ødegaard (2001)
• Jazz på norsk w/ Jan Olav Renvåg (2015)