Kjetil Mulelid - Piano, Unfolding (2026) [Hi-Res]

In 2021, Kjetil Mulelid made his solo piano debut with the album Piano, released on the renowned label Rune Grammofon. As the label’s only solo piano release, the album received widespread critical acclaim and was placed alongside leading figures in the solo piano tradition such as Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett, while also drawing connections to the romantic classical lineage of composers like Chopin. Now, five years after his debut, Mulelid returns with his follow-up album, Piano Unfolding.

The solo format offers vast possibilities for artistic exploration, something Mulelid has continued to develop through numerous solo performances both in Norway and internationally. The idea of a second solo album has therefore been present for some time, and in 2025 he was invited to record at the beautiful Kabuso Art Centre in Øystese. Accompanied by his long-time collaborator Andreas Winther, known from Mulelid’s trio, who joined as sound engineer and close creative partner, the project took shape in an ideal setting.

Kabuso provides an exceptional acoustic space and houses one of Norway’s finest grand pianos. The result is a recording of remarkable clarity and intimacy, placing the listener right beside Mulelid at the instrument rather than at a distance in a concert hall. The music is exposed, honest, and vulnerable, yet expansive - moving between lyrical, melodic compositions and more open, playful explorations. Piano Unfolding highlights Mulelid’s distinctive harmonic and melodic sensibility, shaped by both classical influences and contemporary improvisational voices. Whether through carefully crafted material or extended improvisations, the album reflects a mature and compelling artistic voice.

Kjetil Mulelid (b. 1991) is one of Norway’s most active and distinctive pianists, recognized for a unique musical language where jazz, classical traditions, hymnody, and improvisation intersect. Since graduating from the renowned Jazz Programme in Trondheim in 2014, he has toured extensively across Europe, North America, and Asia, performing in cities such as Vancouver, Ottawa, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Guangzhou. His projects include the Kjetil Mulelid Trio and the quartets Wako and Beiggja, and he has released a number of critically acclaimed albums as a solo artist, bandleader, and collaborator, notably with vocalist Siril Malmedal Hauge. Mulelid’s music has received wide international recognition, with his debut trio album selected as “Best of the Year” by Jazz FM, and coverage in publications such as The Wire, International Piano Magazine, Jazzwise, Orkesterjournalen, Jazznytt, and The NYC Jazz Record. Over the years, he has also collaborated with leading jazz musicians including Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Kika Sprangers, Sissel Vera Pettersen, and Mathias Eick.