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Sunna Gunnlaugs

The Washington Post described her music as possessing “such timeless virtues as lyricism and grace... elegantly bridges soul-searching passages with uncluttered swing.” Sunna Gunnlaugs reaffirms that assesment on her latest CD, Long Pair Bond which features fellow Icelander bassist Thorgrimur Jónsson and long-time cohort Scott McLemore on drums. It’s her first trio album since her debut in 1997, and now a more mature, more experienced Gunnlaugs presents this music in an unhurried, contemplative fashion. Ironically, it is the spaces she leaves that creates a sense of urgency throughout the recording.

"Gunnlaugs proves that jazz can have a wider appeal without losing integrity."—All About Jazz
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 soaring over a driving American rhythm section appeals to jazzers and non-jazzers alike.
As a child growing up on a small peninsula 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, polkas, 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 a Bill Evans trio record (appropriately named "You're Gonna Hear From Me") that sold her on modern jazz.
In 1993 she made her way to the US as a student at William Paterson College and began to hone her own distinct musical voice both as an improvisor and a composer while immersing herself in the standards and studying the masters. Just a 15 minute drive from Manhattan, inspiration was not hard to find. "Suddenly being able to go to the Village Vanguard or Bradley's any night of the week and hear amazing pianists was an incredible experience. It was such a stimulating environment," and one that Gunnlaugs had no intention of leaving after graduating in 1996. She moved to Brooklyn and made her debut recording "Far Far Away" with her trio: bassist Dan Fabricatore and drummer (and future husband), Scott McLemore.
In New York her focus shifted decidedly to performing her own music. She began appearing at listening rooms such as Cornelia Street Cafe and the Knitting Factory, and rave reviews followed. Gunnlaugs was proclaimed an "impressive newcomer" by the Village Voice.
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However, the music she was writing began to need more than just a trio. "I had been listening a lot to the Keith Jarrett quartet and Jan Garabrek with Bobo Stenson and the sound of the quartet was so appealing to me." She called upon saxophonist Tony Malaby and bassist Drew Gress. "I was familiar with Tony from his own bands and was stunned by how expressive he was. Drew, I knew from his work with Fred Hersch and Dave Douglas. He always added such a bounce to my tunes, while keeping it really open." In 1999, along with McLemore, the quartet recorded "Mindful" and, with time left over on the same day, they recorded "Songs from Iceland."

"A stunning quartet."�" All About Jazz

"Mindful" (chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of the year by the Virginian Pilot) was as personal a statement an artist can make. From the opening flurry of notes in duet with Malaby the listener knows something special is coming. There is at once a joyful buoyancy and ethereal melancholy which envelops the listener from start to finish. That ambience continues on "Songs from Iceland" and the relationship with the material, five Icelandic folk-songs that Gunnlaugs grew up with, is just as personal. "These were tunes that we were playing on concerts, and when we felt "Mindful" was complete I suggested we record these for posterity. I wasn't really sure what I would do with them, but it seemed important to document." Almost a decade later "Songs from Iceland" was released, adding more weight to a recommendation from Jazziz that her "unique blend of jazz piano and Icelandic folk music" is a "great listen."

In the meantime Sunna released 2 albums, the first was 2002's "Fagra Veröld" (music written to Icelandic poetry), featuring Gress and McLemore as well as the voice of Kristjana Stefánsdóttir and saxophonist Sigurdur Flosason. The 2nd was 2003's high-energy "Live in Europe" which rode the jazz charts into the top 10 in both the US and Canada. It was recorded in Prague in the middle of a three-week tour of Europe with saxophonist Ohad Talmor and bassist Matt Pavolka.

Gunnlaugs enjoys touring and has performed throughout the US, Canada and Europe, as well as in Tokyo, Japan. "I really like traveling by train in Europe, where you can just relax and reflect. It's a lot different than driving a mini-van in the US. But whenever you tour you never really know what to expect. We once had to get in a tiny little boat to play in Vancouver, and there was almost no room for the upright bass. Also, when you are touring you get to visit little towns that you probably wouldn't go to as a tourist."

The 7 CDs she has released as a leader have consistently met with critical praise over the years, and she has appeared in publications such as JazzTimes, Downbeat, Jazziz, Jazz Podium, Concerto, Stereo, Jazzman, Village Voice, Time Out New York, Swing Journal, Jazzwise, All About Jazz and The Washington Post.

Her last album “The Dream” (featur- ing saxophonist Loren Stillman, bassist Eivind Opsvik and drummer Scott McLemore) jumped straight to #2 on the Canadian jazz charts and to #20 on US CMJ charts...adding new perspective 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.”

Now living in Iceland, she is usually performing with her trio featuring bassist Þorgr�-mur Jónsson and Scott McLemore, but also recently toured as a quartet with the addition of saxophonist �"skar Guðjónsson.

On the horizon for 2012 is touring in Europe, US and Canada with her Icelandic trio.

Awards

Her various credits and awards include: * an endowment from the American Culture Center * a concert at the American Embassy in Iceland * a cultural award from the American Scandinavian Society * an artist salary from the Ministry of Education in Iceland in 1999, 2002 and 2006 * and a concert at the prestigious Cosmos Club in Washington DC presented by the Icelandic Embassy.

Gear

Whatever piano is available, or my Wurlitzer electric piano with Microverb II and Line 6 delay.

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Sunna Gunnlaugs: Becoming

by Neil Duggan
June 20, 2023

Raised on a small peninsula in Iceland and later educated in New York City, Sunna Gunnlaugs, could easily have followed a different musical path if it hadn't been for the gift of a Bill Evans record in her teens. That gift set her on a path that has led to Becoming, the fifth album Gunnlaugs has released with her trio, comprising fellow Icelandic bassist Thorgrimur Jónsson and drummer (and husband) Scott McLemore. Gunnlaugs reached number two on the ...

Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Distilled

Read "Distilled" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
July 18, 2014

La scena musicale islandese non ha prodotto solo Björk, Sigur Rós e, per quanto riguarda il jazz, Mezzoforte e Skúli Sverrisson. La pianista di questo trio, Sunna Gunnlaugs (il cognome per esteso è Gunnlaugsdóttir) è un'artista pregevole che ha vissuto negli anni Novanta a New York suonando con Drew Gress, Tony Malaby, Loren Stillman e altri, sviluppando uno stile che sa essere liricamente ricercato sul modello Brad Mehldau ma capace di groove come il compianto Esbjörn Svensson.

Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Distilled

Read "Distilled" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
September 28, 2013

It is tempting to connect a musical aesthetic with a particular place. In fact, the whole idea of national music relies on the concept of an intrinsic national spirit, which creates an original musical expression. The only problem with a concept like national music is that it tends to pigeonhole musicians and create prejudice rather than adventurousness. Then it is great to have an artist like Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs, who is good at turning things around. ...

Catching Up With

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Keys For Traveling

by Dave Sumner
June 12, 2012

Pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs is back in the USA for a visit. Following on the heels of the critical success of 2011 release Long Pair Bond (Sunny Sky), Gunnlaugs will be touring from coast to coast beginning in Berkeley, California and hitting several cities along the way to a three-day grand finale in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She'll have the Long Pair Bond trio in tow, with Scott McLemore on drums and Þorgrimur Jonsson on bass.Originally from Iceland, Gunnlaugs attended ...

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Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Long Pair Bond

Read "Long Pair Bond" reviewed by William Carey

by William Carey
February 3, 2012

Several songs on Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs' Long Pair Bond, including the ballad “Elsabella," are lilting and beautiful enough to have an almost hypnotic effect. The interplay between Gunnlaugs and bassist Þorgrímur Jónsson is clearly borne out of a great deal of time spent working together. Along with drummer Scott McLemore, who contributed three compositions to this session, the group plays with an empathy for which jazz ensembles strive, especially important in trios such as this.Gunnlaugs has a ...

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Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Long Pair Bond

Read "Long Pair Bond" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
February 2, 2012

With Long Pair Bond, Sunna Gunnlaugs returns to the piano trio format last heard on Far Far Away. Since that 1997 self-titled debut--the only album to use her tongue-twisting full name, Gunnlaugsdóttir--the Icelandic pianist has, in addition to contracting her name to the eminently more memorable Gunnlaugs, recorded almost exclusively with quartets, largely populated with American (or, at least, American-resident) musicians met after moving to the United States in 1993 to study at William Paterson College. Long Pair Bond's return ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Sunna Gunnlaugs

by Sunna Gunnlaugs
November 29, 2011

Meet Sunna Gunnlaugs: Ex-Brooklyn patriot, born in Iceland, jazz pianist and composer Sunna Gunnlaugs has released five CDs and performed in Europe, Japan, Canada and the US, combining the elegance of the European approach with a New York attitude.Instrument(s): PianoTeachers and/or influences? When I lived in New York I was very influenced by all the music around me and especially the fact that everyone was writing their own. I think ...

Contest

Enter the "Sunna Gunnlaugs - Distilled" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz
November 3, 2013

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the “Sunna Gunnlaugs - Distilled“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on December 2nd. Click here to enter the contest

(Becoming a fan of Sunna Gunnlaugs at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! About Distilled

In many ways this is a continuation of my last album, Long Pair Bond, which features the same trio: Þorgrímur Jónsson on bass and Scott McLemore ...
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Recording

Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio Releases "Distilled" on Sunny Sky Records

Source: Scott McLemore
July 22, 2013

Her last album Long Pair Bond received 5 stars from the Austrian jazz magazine Concerto, among other stellar reviews from around the world. Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs set high expectations for the follow-up trio recording, Distilled, which was just released on Sunny Sky Records. There have already been some initial reviews. Blogger Stephan Moore from Jazz Wrap says it's “probably the brightest of all her releases to date." S. Victor Aaron of Something Else Reviews writes “This could have been ...
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Contest

Enter the "Sunna Gunnlaugs - Long Pair Bond" CD Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz
December 9, 2011

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Recording

Pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs releases new album at the London Jazz Festival

Source: Scott McLemore
October 23, 2011

Icelandic jazz pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs is releasing a new trio album on November 12th at the London Jazz Festival. However, the digital release will be Nov. 11. That is, 11/11/11 at 11:11pm EST. It was just too good to resist. With her on the album is her long-time cohort Scott McLemore on drums and fellow Icelander bassist Thorgrimur Jonsson. The material is predominantly originals by all 3 musicians, with the exception of one piece by Rufus Wainwright and one by ...
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Recording

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Pay What You Want Summer Sale

Source: Scott McLemore
August 1, 2010

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Radio

The Jazz Session #177: Sunna Gunnlaugs

Source: Michael Ricci
June 14, 2010

Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs is giving the power back to the people to fund her new CD, The Dream. She's using micro-patronage to raise the funds for the CD and for her tour of the U.S., which begins June 15, 2010. In this interview, Gunnlaugs discusses her decision to use a fan-based funding system; how Kool & The Gang became a gateway to jazz; why she decided to come to the United States to study; and why she eventually returned ...
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Recording

Make the Dream a Reality with Sunna Gunnlaugs

Source: Michael Ricci
May 27, 2010

Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs will be releasing a new CD on June 17th and with the help of Kickstarter.com she's hoping you will get involved. The CD is called 'The Dream' and features the fine talents of Loren Stillman, Eivind Opsvik and Scott McLemore. Everything is done except the manufacturing and promotion of the CD, and that's where you can help. 'The Dream' has it's own page on Kickstarter.com where you can go become a 'backer' and choose from a ...
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Recording

Sunna Gunnlaugs 3-Day Holiday Download Special

Source: Michael Ricci
December 15, 2009

This is a holiday special not to be missed. Icelandic jazz pianist and composer Sunna Gunnlaugs is offering downloads of her entire catalog and you can name your price, even $0. Check out the details on her official blog. Jazz critic Peter Hum said about her latest release, Songs from Iceland “It has a warm, satisfying blend of rigor and freedom. Similarly, despite being just five songs long, the disc has considerable emotional range, balancing moments ...
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Performance / Tour

Sunna Gunnlaugs Performing in VA, DC and NY

Source: Cyber PR
June 12, 2009

Icelandic pianist and ex-Brooklyn patriot Sunna Gunnlaugs has returned to the US to promote her latest album Songs from Iceland and prepare a new recording.

On her latest CD, “Songs from Iceland" she re-imagines 5 Icelandic folk-songs for jazz quartet, adding new perspective 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 Bjork or SigurRos.”

Tour dates include: June 13th Fellowship of Inner ...
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Event

Icelandic Pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs in VA. Beach, Sat. June 13th

Source: Cyber PR
June 11, 2009

This will be her only Tidewater appearance. The internationally acclaimed jazz pianist from Iceland Sunna Gunnlaugs will be joined by bassist Jimmy Masters and drummer Scott McLemore for a night of music from her recent release “Songs from Iceland" as well as new originals (to be recorded with her quartet in NY later this month). June 13th, 2009 at 7:30pm Fellowship of the Inner Light 620 14th St, Virginia Beach, VA (757) 428-5782
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From the blogs: “Long Pair Bond is phenomenal.”—Jazzwrap, Stephan Moore "Too much spaciness can wreck a good album, and too much earth can, too. Long Pair Bond gets pretty darn close to the perfect balance." — Rehearsing the Blues, Jon Wertheim "There is a crystalline beauty to the music that upon further examination unfolds its secrets slowly like the narrative of a well written novel." — Music and More, Tim Niland

What the European press is saying: “... Sunna Gunnlaugs’ Trio whose cool atmospherics and meditative quality draws on Icelandic folk melodies and brooding soundscapes, yet internally has an unhurried Bill Evans-like swing and an appetite to explore the inner soul.” — Jon Newey, Jazzwise, UK