T h i s  i s  t h e  o f f i c i a l  s i t e  o f

C a r s t e n  D a h l



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contact Carsten Dahl personally:
piano@carstendahl.dk

for groups & concert booking:
musik@musang.dk

for questions concerning this website:
booking@carstendahl.com

Danish pianist Carsten Dahl, born 1967 in Copenhagen, began his career as a drummer. At age six he was imitating the Mozart Concertos by drumming his fingers on his parent’s writing desk because they didn’t have a piano. At fifteen, when he finally got a real piano, it didn’t seem difficult at all; he would just recall the feeling! Five years later, in 1987, he trained with master percussionists Ed Thigpen and Alex Riel at Copenhagen's Rhythmic Conservatory before switching to piano in 1988. He is a self-taught pianist exept for a training programme in piano basics with jazz pianist Jørgen Nielsen. 

Carsten has already established himself as one of the greatest European players, with a very rhythmic, intuitive and "listening" approach to the music. He has performed with such names as Wynton Marsalis, Ed Thigpen, Andy Sheppard, Johnny Griffin, NHØP, Cæcilie Nordby, Joe Lovano, Ludz Buchner, Ted Curson, Carmen Lundy, James Moody, Jerry Bergonzi, Ed Neumaster, Tom Kirk Patrick, Jim Snidero, Phil Wilson, Pete Yellin, Hanne Boel, Benny Golson, Miroslav Vitous, Jimmy Cobb, Walter Booker, Tim Hagans and Eddie Gomez. His work with the Ginman/Blachman/Dahl! And Dahl/Andersen/Heral trios have received great reviews worldwide, and his reputation is quickly escalating as a solo pianist.

Carsten has put his name on numerous recordings, both as leader and as sideman. On Storyville records he made two trio albums and one solo: Will You Make My Soup Hot & Silver (1998), Message from Bud (1999), and the Butterfly Dream (2000). On Stunt records he also made two trio albums and one solo triple CD: The Sign (2002), Moon Water (2004), and Carsten Dahl - Solo Piano (2003). On Verve records he has made two trio albums and a DVD: Ginman/Blachman/Dahl! - The Library bar Concerts (2003), Ginman/Blachman/Dahl! - Ginman/Blachman/Dahl! (2004),

Ginman/Blachman/Dahl! feat. Thomas Agergaard - Testing 1-2-3-4 (2005).

 Carsten has already received several distinguished prizes: Ben Webster Prize (1997), JAZZPAR Prize (2000), JASA Prize (2002) and 2005 he achieved an honorary prize for his trio recording Moon Water. He received the Danish Music Award 2004 for his solo triple CD, in the category: Best Album of the Year.

Carsten Dahl is in the forefront of the new generation of Danish jazz musicians, has toured USA, Russia, England, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Mexico, South Africa and Japan. True to his beginnings, he is still a proficient percussionist/drummer.

Dahl is a family man who enjoys being around his wife and three girls. He also likes to teach. Prior to his move to Copenhagen, he was an associate professor at the Conservatory at Esbjerg, Denmark; and since 1992 he has been at the leading edge in developing new techniques for teaching a new generation of Danish piano players.

2005 Carsten Dahl signed an exclusive contract with Universal Music Denmark, releasing solo albums on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

First 2005 release will be a 2CD live recording: Copenhagen - Aarhus. Upcoming solo releases are: The Rainbow Studio Sessions and Bach: Goldberg-Variations.