Jazz Articles about Sunna Gunnlaugs

About Sunna Gunnlaugs

Interview

Sunna Gunnlaugs: A Merry Old Time

by Ian Patterson
July 12, 2026

From the kinetic hurly burly of New York to the dramatic landscape and wide-open spaces of volcanic Iceland. Both environments have informed the music of Icelandic pianist-composer Sunna Gunnlaugs. Twelve years in New York, saw her play and record with some of the city's finest jazz musicians, including drummer Scott McLemore, her husband, and closest musical partner of over 30 years. Gunnlaugs returned to her native Reykjavik in 2005, since when she has raised a family--not without McLemore's ...

Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Go Round Merry

Read "Go Round Merry" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
July 12, 2026

The title of Icelandic pianist-composer Sunna Gunnlaugs' 15th album as leader is a manifesto of sorts--a call to embrace the moment and savor life's simple pleasures as we go about our business. Gunnlaugs has always shown a penchant for memorable melodies, and this album--her sixth with her longstanding trio partners, bassist Þorgrímur Jónsson and drummer Scott McLemore--is no exception. A working unit since 2011, it should come as no surprise that there is an egalitarian esprit de corps across these ...

Album Review

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. ...

Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Long Pair Bond

Read "Long Pair Bond" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 28, 2012

Ci sono situazioni ipercodificate, nelle quali è operazione rischiosa avventurarsi. Lo si può fare con spirito iconoclasta, con intento di ricerca o con volontà di aderire ad una tradizione. Il trio pianistico è una di queste e Sunna Gunnlaugs è consapevole del rischio che corre, nel far uscire Long Pair Bond, alla guida del trio che ha formato da qualche anno con suo marito Scott McLemore alla batteria e Porgrimur Jonsson al basso. Si tratta di un trio pianistico dagli ...

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 ...