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Skúli Sverrisson

Skúli Sverrisson is an Icelandic composer and bassist residing in New York City. Over the past two decades, bass guitarist-composer Skuli Sverrisson has worked with a veritable who’s who of the experimental world, from free jazz legends (Wadada Leo Smith, Derek Bailey) to music icons (Lou Reed, Jon Hassel, David Sylvian, Arto Lindsey) and composers (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Johann Johannsson and Hildur Gudnadottir). Sverrisson is also known for his work as an artistic director for Olof Arnalds (Innundir Skinni, Vid og Vid), recordings with Blonde Redhead and as a musical director for legendary performance artist Laurie Anderson.

In 2006, Sverrisson founded 'Seria', an ongoing ensemble featuring Amedeo Pace (Blonde Redhead), Olof Arnalds, David Thor Jonsson, Anthony Burr, Eyvind Kang and Hildur Gudnadottir. He released Seria in 2006 and Seria ll in 2010. Sverrisson has appeared on over 100 recordings and has performed around the world with a wide range of artists. He has been awarded 5 Icelandic Music Awards, including Icelandic Album of the Year for Seria in 2006. 

Sverrisson also plays dobro, acoustic bass guitar, and charango, in addition to electric bass. He is currently music director for Laurie Anderson and tours with her internationally.


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Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Skúli Sverrisson With Bill Frisell And More

Read "New Music From Skúli Sverrisson With Bill Frisell And More" reviewed by Bob Osborne


This playlist traverses a wide spectrum of sound, moving seamlessly from intimate, reflective duets and delicate chamber-like compositions to the expansive energy of full ensembles and avant-garde explorations. Whether you are looking for moments of quiet introspection, intricate harmonic interplay, or adventurous sonic textures, these tracks represent a vibrant cross-section of today's creative musicians pushing the boundaries of the genre. Playlist Skúli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell “Thank You for Taking Me There and Back" from For All Your ...

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Album Review

Skúli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell: For All Your Flowers

Read "For All Your Flowers" reviewed by Neil Duggan


For All Your Flowers is the second collaboration between Icelandic bassist and composer Skuli Sverrisson and guitarist Bill Frisell, following Strata (Newvelle Records, 2018). Surprisingly, despite appearing on more than 100 recordings, Sverrisson remains little-known, while his partner here has spent decades cultivating one of the most recognizable guitar sounds in jazz, drawing as naturally from folk, country and Americana as it does from improvisation. What unites them is a long history of collaboration across a broad spectrum of artists ...

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Album Review

Skúli Sverrisson With Bill Frisell: Strata

Read "Strata" reviewed by Ian Patterson


A meeting of minds, of hearts and of souls. Strata may be the first recording of the duo of Icelandic bassist Skuli Sverrisson and guitarist Bill Frisell, but so attuned are the musicians to each other's wavelengths, and so spellbinding their common language, that you could be forgiven for thinking they had played in this format for donkey's years. Originally a limited edition, vinyl-only release in 2018, Strata is now available for the first time on digital platforms, which is ...

1

Album Review

Skuli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell: Strata

Read "Strata" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Approda finalmente in formato digitale (CD e piattaforme di streaming) l'album frutto della recente collaborazione tra il bassista islandese Skúli Sverrisson e il chitarrista Bill Frisell, già precedentemente pubblicato nel 2018 esclusivamente su vinile in una edizione a tiratura limitata per collezionisti andata rapidamente esaurita nonostante il prezzo non propriamente a buon mercato. Ora che il lavoro può godere di una diffusione più ampia potrà essere apprezzato da una platea più vasta, come sicuramente merita. Viene spontaneo ...

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Album Review

Skuli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell: Strata

Read "Strata" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


On their two previous third-season releases, Andy Zimmerman's Half Light and Lionel Loueke's Close Your Eyes (both 2018), Newvelle Records pushed the envelope just a bit away from the deeply melodic formula that they have favored across seventeen albums to date. While those vinyl releases incorporated more elements of improvisational complexity, they were hardly foraying into the avant-garde. On Strata the duo of bassist Skúli Sverrisson and guitarist Bill Frisell bring us back to the purely melodic model.

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Album Review

Skuli Sverrisson: Strata

Read "Strata" reviewed by Franz A. Matzner


A contemplative affair, Skuli Sverisson and Bill Frisell's Strata unfolds like a slow burning fire. The hovering notes and somber guitar lines evolve gradually, emerging like wind carved monuments visible through a hovering mist to reveal a stark, melancholic, and aridly beautiful landscape. The album demonstrates a fluid, masterful interaction between the two artists and maintains a distinct, consistent sound across its 10 selections. Throughout, economical choices sinuously articulate the work's overall pathos. With nothing wasted, the emotive ...

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Album Review

Skúli Sverrisson, Óskar Guðjónsson: The Box Tree

Read "The Box Tree" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Un album originale fin dal packaging questo The Box Tree, opera dei due musicisti islandesi Skúli Sverrisson e Óskar Guðjónsson: la copertina è sostituita da una bustina di plastica da cartine geografiche, al cui interno c'è appunto una mappa di un territorio non identificabile, la cui legenda indica i brani, gli autori e i vari dati del disco che si trova al suo interno. Ma le particolarità non si fermano alla confezione, perché la musica del duo ...

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Björn Meyer
bass, electric
Sebastien Pittet
bass, electric
Paolo Dinuzzi
bass, electric

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

For All Your Flowers

Newvelle Records
2026

buy

Along the Low Road

April Records
2026

buy

north

Self Produced
2025

buy

Hlýnun

Reykjavík Record Shop
2021

buy

Strata

Newvelle Records
2018

buy

For All Your Flowers

From: For All Your Flowers
By Skúli Sverrisson

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