biography
Tel: (354) 869 6022 • Álfatún 33, 200 Kópavogur, Iceland
Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs
bridges the Brooklyn-Reykjavík jazz
divide with European elegance and
a fiery, New York drive.
he Washington Post described
her music as possessing “such
timeless virtues as lyricism and
grace... elegantly bridges soul-search-
ing passages with uncluttered swing.”
On her latest CD, “Songs from Ice-
land” she confirms that assessment
by re-imagining 5 Icelandic folk-songs
for jazz quartet, adding new perspec-
tive to Time Out New York’s statement
that Gunnlaugs is “proof that jazz is as
much a part of the picture as the pop
of Björk or SigurRos.” Her next record-
ing is scheduled for June in New York
amidst US tour-dates.
Equally influenced by such American
pianists as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett,
and Scandinavians like Bobo Stenson
and Jon Balke, Sunna has found a way
to make music to which people on
both sides of the Atlantic can relate.
Her own charming brand of romantic
lyricism riding upon a driving Ameri-
can rhythm section appeals to jazzers
and non-jazzers alike.
As a child growing up on a small pen-
insula called Seltjarnarnes not far from
Reykjavik she began taking lessons on
the organ at the urging of her mother.
“The idea of playing the piano didn’t
appeal to me as a kid. I associated it
with classical pianists who seemed
to have no fun. But on the organ you
could play anything, the Beatles, pol-
kas, Strauss and that seemed like more
fun.” By her teens, having realized
that you could in fact play a variety of
music on the piano, it was the gift of
biography
sunna@sunnagunnlaugs.com www.sunnagunnlaugs.com
called upon saxophonist Tony Malaby in the middle of a three-week tour Voice, Time Out New York, Swing
and bassist Drew Gress. “I was familiar of Europe with saxophonist Ohad Journal, All About Jazz and The
with Tony from his own bands and was Talmor and bassist Matt Pavolka. Washington Post.
stunned by how expressive he was.
Drew, I knew from his work with Fred Gunnlaugs enjoys touring and has
“such timeless
Hersch and Dave Douglas. He always
added such a bounce to my tunes,
performed throughout the US,
Canada and Europe, as well as in virtues as lyricism
while keeping it really open.” In 1999,
along with McLemore, the quartet
Tokyo, Japan. “I really like traveling
by train in Europe, where you can
and grace...”
recorded “Mindful” and, with time
left over on the same day, the newly
just relax and reflect. It’s a lot differ-
ent than driving a mini-van in the
– Washington Post
released “Songs from Iceland.” US. We once had to get in a tiny little
The latest incarnation of her quartet
boat to play in Vancouver, and there
includes McLemore, Norwegian
“Mindful” (chosen as one of the top 10 was almost no room for the upright
a Bill Evans trio record bassist Eivind Opsvik and saxophon-
CDs of the year by the Virginian Pilot) bass. When you are touring you get
(appropriately named ist Loren Stillman. “This is a band
was as personal a statement an artist to visit little towns that you probably
“You’re Gonna Hear that I’ve wanted to record for some
can make. From the opening flurry of wouldn’t go to as a tourist.”
From Me”) that time, but which I made the decision
notes in duet with Malaby the listener
sold her on to put off and instead moved back to
knows something special is coming. The 5 CDs she has released as a
modern jazz. Iceland to have children.” Gunn-
There is at once a joyful buoyancy and leader have consistently met with
laugs will be touring the US with the
ethereal melancholy which envelops critical praise over the years, and she
In 1993 she quartet this summer and recording
the listener from start to finish. That has appeared in publications such as
made her her next album in NY which is as of
ambience continues on “Songs from JazzTimes, Downbeat, Jazz Podium,
way to the yet untitled.
Iceland” and the relationship with the Concerto, Stereo, Jazzman, Village
US as a
material, five Icelandic folk-songs that
student at
Gunnlaugs grew up with, is almost as
William Paterson
College and began to
hone her own distinct musical
“A stunning quartet.”
voice both as an improvisor and a – All About Jazz
composer while immersing herself
in the standards and studying the personal. “These were tunes that we
were playing on concerts, and when
we felt “Mindful” was complete I sug-
“Gunnlaugs proves that jazz can have a gested we record these for posterity. I
wider appeal without losing integrity.” wasn’t really sure what I would do with
them, but it seemed important to docu-
– All About Jazz ment.” Almost a decade later “Songs
from Iceland” was released, adding
In New York her focus shifted decid-
masters. Just a 15 minute drive from more weight to recommendation from
edly to performing her own music. She
Manhattan, inspiration was not hard to Jazziz Magazine that her “unique blend
began appearing at listening rooms
find. “Suddenly being able to go to the of jazz piano and Icelandic folk music”
such as Cornelia Street Cafe and the
Village Vanguard or Bradley’s any night is a “great listen.”
Knitting Factory, and rave reviews fol-
of the week and hear amazing pianists
lowed. Gunnlaugs was proclaimed an
was an incredible experience. It was In the meantime Sunna released 2
“impressive newcomer” by the Village
such a stimulating environment,” and albums, the first was 2002’s “Fagra
Voice.
one that Gunnlaugs had no intention Veröld” (music written to Icelandic po-
of leaving after graduating in 1996. etry), featuring Gress and McLemore as
However, the music she was writing
She moved to Brooklyn and made her well as the voice of Kristjana Stefáns-
began to need more than just a trio.
debut recording “Far Far Away” with dóttir and saxophonist Sigurdur Flosa-
“I had been listening a lot to the Keith
her trio: bassist Dan Fabricatore and son. The 2nd was 2003’s high-energy
Jarrett quartet and Jan Garabrek with
drummer (and future husband), Scott “Live in Europe” which rode the jazz
Bobo Stenson and the sound of the
McLemore. charts into the top 10 in both the US
quartet was so appealing to me.” She
and Canada. It was recorded in Prague
 reviews prior venues
Tel: (354) 869 6022 • Álfatún 33, 200 Kópavogur, Iceland Tel: (354) 869 6022 • Álfatún 33, 200 Kópavogur, Iceland
sunna@sunnagunnlaugs.com www.sunnagunnlaugs.com sunna@sunnagunnlaugs.com www.sunnagunnlaugs.com

Latest Release
Icelandic traditional songs used as a vehicle for improvisation. USA
Features the “Mindful” quartet: Tony Malaby-sax, Sunna Gunnlaugs-pno, New York Knitting Factory 55 Bar Cornelia St. Cafe Detour Scandinavia House Barbes Cafe St. Bartz Restaurant 147 CBs Gallery
Drew Gress-bass and Scott McLemore-drums. Joe’s Pub Kavehaz
Songs from Iceland
Sunny Sky 725
Connecticut Club 880 Main & Hopewell Spriz
Released 2009 Washington DC Blues Alley Twins The National Museum of Women in the Arts Corcoran Gallery Icelandic Ambassador’s Residency
Virginia Williamsburg Library Staunton Jazz Festival Waterfront International Arts Festival, Va Beach Contemporary Art Center, Va
Beach Dumas Art Center, Roanoke Heros, Manassas Millers, Charlottesville
Live in Europe Fagra veröld Mindful Far Far Away
New Jersey South Jersey Blues and Jazz Fest Borders Books and Music Drew University, Madison The Priory, Newark Westfield
Sunny Sky 722 Sunny Sky 721 Sunny Sky 720 SDM 719 Jazzfest
Released 2003 Released 2002 Released 2000 Released 1997
Delaware Bourbon St. Cafe
Ohad Talmor-sax Kristjana Stefánsdóttir-vocals Tony Malaby-sax Sunna Gunnlaugs-piano Minnesota Dakota Bar & Grill
Sunna Gunnlaugs-piano Sigurdur Flosason-sax Sunna Gunnlaugs-piano Dan Fabricatore-bass Ohio Night Town, Cleveland Hyde Park Grill, Columbus
Matt Pavolka-bass Sunna Gunnlaugs-piano Drew Gress-bass Scott McLemore-drums
Scott McLemore-drums Drew Gress-bass Scott McLemore-drums Pennsylvania The Deer Head Inn, Delaware Watergap
Scott McLemore-drums Maryland Bentz St Raw Bar, Frederick Borders Books and Music

Reviews - USA Reviews - Europe

“[Live in Europe is a] wholly captivating set that combines
the elegance of the European approach with a more fiery
American-sounding rhythm section... Gunnlaugs proves
that jazz can have a wider appeal without losing integrity”
—All About Jazz
“Her articulate touch alone should endear her to fans of
Evans and Jarrett, as should the intimate and seemingly
intuitive rapport sustained by her quartet throughout
‘Mindful.’” — Washington Post
“Fagra veröld showcases Gunnlaugs’highly sophisticated
and articulate pianism as well as her lyrical and thoughtful
compositions, which range between simple statements of
melody and more complex platforms for exploration. But
they always always exhibit logic and beauty.”
— All About Jazz
“Fine musicians seem to be among Iceland’s most visible
exports these days, and pianist Gunnlaugs is proof that
jazz is as much a part of the picture as the pop of Björk or
SigurRos.” — Time Out New York
“Impressive newcomer” — Village Voice
“Gunnlaugs may be the best jazz pianist you’ve never
heard” — Virginian Pilot
“Sie und die perfekt eingespielte Gruppe machen dises CD [Mind- OTHER COUNTRIES
ful] zu einem uneingeschrankten Genuss” Germany Neustadt an der Weinstraße Backnang Köln Pforzheim Oberammergau Munchen Freiburg Mainz Esslingen Reutlingen
Music-Check ***** HiFi-Check **** — STEREO, Germany Kirchheim Frankfurt
Austria Graz Lustenau Vorchdorf
“Nordisch klare, elegante und spannungsreiche Melodielinien”
— Jazz Podium, Germany Switzerland Basel Genf
Slovakia Piestany
“Mindful is a beautiful piece of work” — Jazz Scene, Norway Czek Republic Prag Plzen Brno
France Paris
Mais globalement, son “Mindful” ne manque pas de charme et té-
moigne d’un hommêteté suffisamment rare pour que l’on retienne England London Birmingham
son nom. —Jazzman, France Luxemburg
[Fagra veröld]...wie Jazzstandards anmutende Stücke. Bleibt das
Japan Tokyo
Klavierspiel Sunna Gunnlaugs zu loben und die Lebendigkeit der
Kompositionen hervorzuheben —Jazzdimensions, Germany
Canada Montreal Toronto Victoria Vancouver Ottawa
“il est fortement conseillé de chercher à entendre la quartet de
Sunna Gunnlaugs, au disque ou sur scène.”—Piano Le Magazine,
Iceland Reykjavik Egilsstaðir Vopnafjörður Akureyri Isafjörður Hvammstangi Sauðárkrókur Húsavík Kirkjubæjarklaustur Höfn Hvoll
France
Seltjarnarnes Myvatn
“Erst ganz behutsam, dann immer selbstbewusster, kraftvoller u
nd strahlender sind die Interaktionen und Chorusse. Verhalten
swingend, melancholisch angehaucht, aber frisch wie Eis.”
—Stuttgarter Zeitung, Germany

“A subtle storm unfolds and pearls pop through the morn-

ing dew” — Downtown Music Gallery