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Kresten Osgood

Kresten Osgood is one of these people who at the same time defy and totally own categories. An extraordinary drummer and improviser who with the fullest respect to tradition, challenges it at any given moment of his creative endeavors. He has about a 100 albums to his credit, toured practically everywhere, has been performing and/or recording with legends like Roscoe Mitchell, Paul Bley, Lee Scratch Perry, William Parker, Masabumi Kikuchi, Derek Bailey, Wadada Leo Smith, Jason Moran, Michael Blake, Oliver Lake, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Tchicai, Tim Berne, Justin Vernon, Peter Brötzman, Joshua Redman, Eugene Chadbourne, Billy Preston, Alan Silva, Brad Mehldau, Mats Gustafsson, Bennie Maupin, The National, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sam Rivers, Henry Grimes, Dr. Yusef Lateef, Warren Smith, and many many others.

But even that doesn't really cover the full spectrum of what he has been up to in his career. A successful rapper, composer, pianist, vocalist, saxophonist and trumpeter, a true multi-instrumentalist, a powerful organizer being an extremely important driving force in lifting and pushing the music life in Copenhagen forward, entertainer with his own shows in TV and radio, receiver of numerous awards and honors, A very sharp kaleidoscope man, regardless of the context always realizing his fullest potential.

Kresten has been involved in a 17 part series about the history of danish jazz. a podcast released by the Danish National radio.

Nacka Forum: Peaceful Piano

Read "Peaceful Piano" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero

by Vincenzo Roggero
February 17, 2025

Dopo una serie di album che hanno marchiato a fuoco la scena svedese, dopo aver presenziato nelle playlist di mezzo mondo, dopo acclamati tour in USA, Giappone, Europa e Scandinavia ecco che viene dato alle stampe, naturalmente per la benemerita Moserobie, Peaceful Piano, l'album che celebra il venticinquesimo anniversario di Nacka Forum. Per l'occasione Jonas Kullhammar e soci presentano nuove composizioni e in due degli otto brani ospitano il sassofonista Lars-Goran Ulander, decano del jazz svedese, ricordato per alcune leggendarie ...

Radio & Podcasts

Kresten Osgood, Mark Turner, The Fury, M.T.B., AuB & More

by Ludovico Granvassu
February 8, 2025

For the last round of recent releases of the year, we bring you an engaging selection that ranges from the groovy and loungey, to the firey and fun! Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Copa Salvo “Tong King Rock" Paul Murphy Presents Copa Salvo (Jazz Room Records) 0:16 Host talks 3:56 Les Hommes “The Hip Heart" Sì, Così (Sudden Hunger) 4:57 Host talks 8:42 Kresten Osgood ...

Multiple Reviews

Kresten Osgood: Presence in the Room

by Jakob Baekgaard
December 23, 2024

It is hard to underestimate the influence of drummer Kresten Osgood on Danish jazz. As a co-founder of the prominent ILK Music label and the man behind several festivals and musical events, he has been a vital part of creating a vibrant modern jazz scene and community that has also welcomed visits from the many jazz legends Osgood has played with. The later years have seen him deliberately slowing down on arranging events, although he has found ...

Album Review

Kresten Osgood Quintet: Live At H15 Studio

Read "Live At H15 Studio" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
November 26, 2024

For a reader of contemporary fiction, sometimes you wade through some fine literature with skillful writing by authors who have honed their craft but have failed to give you a plot. Then, some books tell stories that seize your imagination. You can't put them down. There is a parallel occurrence in modern jazz. There are virtuous composers and musicians, but their technical skills produce no storyline you want to return to. This live recording by drummer Kresten Osgood's quintet has ...

Radio & Podcasts

Kresten Osgood, Adriano Clemente & Rempis Percussion Quartet

by Maurice Hogue
July 10, 2023

Danish drummer Kresten Osgood has always fascinated me with his versatility, and he's one of those do-everything cats: composer, saxophonist, singer, organizer, media host and rapper. But it's his drumming that gets the spotlight in this show with a peek at back catalogue plus a new release with iconic drummer Ra Kalam Bob Moses and guitarist Tisziji Munoz. Adriano Clemente, multi-instrumentalist and band leader from Naples, Italy, was inspired by John Coltrane's spiritual journey, and with his Akashmani Jazz Ensemble, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Kresten Osgood, Ronnie Foster, Melissa Stylianou, Ghost Horse & More New Releases

by Ludovico Granvassu
June 28, 2022

An Hammond B-3onanza! Ronnie Foster is back, with a reissue of Two-Headed Freap and the first new album in almost four decades, Reboot, and so is the Gentle Giant of Danish jazz drummer-turned-Hammond player Kresten Osgood. A compare and contrast between Gerald Clayton and Melissa Stylianou, Gene Bertoncini and Ike Sturm, as well the new gems by Ghost Horse and Liquid Saloon complete a playlist that is all killer, no filler!Happy listening!PlaylistBen Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme ...

Album Review

Maneri / Kalmanovitch / Jacobson / Osgood: Variations On No Particular Theme - Part 1

Read "Variations On No Particular Theme - Part 1" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
December 14, 2021

This free improvisation chamber quartet is an interesting study in bold, yet even-tempered music making. Tomo Jacobson, the Polish-born bassist now making Copenhagen his home, assembled this Europe-meets-North American cast for what appears to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Jacobson is joined by Danish drummer Kresten Osgood and two violists, the Canadian Tanya Kalmanovitch and American Mat Maneri. Jacobson and Osgood are members of the septet Moonbow, and the drummer released Tzokth Songs (Isula Jazz, 2016) along with ...

Radio

Philadelphia's WRTI 90.1 launches fascinating new podcast about the history of jazz in Denmark

Source: Michael Ricci
March 26, 2022

WRTI is proud to announce the launch of Dangerous Sounds, an eight-episode podcast series on WRTI.org. Based on the award-winning Danish podcast Dangerous Tones—The Story of Danish Jazz, Dangerous Sounds is the English-language version presented by WRTI in collaboration with JazzDanmark, the national Danish organization for jazz. “This revealing new Dangerous Sounds series showcases a powerful history and relationship between the U.S. and Denmark through jazz, and significantly adds to the overall history and appreciation of jazz music in America, ...
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Performance / Tour

Kresten Osgood Trio with Oliver Lake & Michael Gregory Jackson at Cornelia Street Caf Thursday April 6

Source: All About Jazz
April 4, 2006

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street NYC, New York 212-989-9319 between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1,9 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, F to West 4th St.

Kresten Osgood Trio

Oliver Lake, saxes Michael Gregorry Jackson, guitar Kresten Osgood, drums

Thursday April 6, 8:30PM & 10:00PM cover $10 + $6min.

This evening features a very specialmeeting of new ...
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