BIO - Søren Kjærgaard
Piano / keys, composer / arranger & Ikscheltaschel rapper.
Since Søren Kjærgaard in 2000 won the Nordic Young Jazz Competition he has established himself as one of the Danish music scene’s most wanted pianists and keyboard players. In 2004 the pianist/composer was awarded the Danish National Radio Jazz Award for his originality and creative presence on the experimental jazz scene of Copenhagen and Denmark, being one the pioneers in the new wave of the young generation. The award was followed by radio appearances and the recent solo piano/key album ”KEYS” (january 2006) which was recorded in the National Radio studios.
On the jazz scene, Søren Kjærgaard has claimed attention for his three releases on ILK (2005): Søren Kjærgaard Trio - ”Amfebia” & ”Akustia; Bandapart. He is a third of the hard hitting hip hop dadaists of Ikscheltaschel who opened the Roskilde Festival 2005 on the legendary Orange Stage. He is leader of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory (Copenhagen) school orchestra, Ultraktement. He was musical director and arranger on the highly acclaimed album, ”Andersens Drømme”, featuring some of the greatest poets and rock/pop artists of Denmark, and he is active on the Danish rock scene with Nikolaj Nørlund and Jens Unmack. Internationally Søren Kjærgaard has toured with former Lounge Lizzards tenorman Michael Blake’s Blake Tartare.
Søren Kjærgaard has performed in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, France, New York and Canada...
...and he has toured/performed/recorded with:
Tim Berne, Herb Robertson, Derek Bailey, William Parker, Jim Black, Andrew D’Angelo, Mike Formanek, Tony Malaby, Peter Brötzman, Thomas Öberg (Bob Hund), Michael Blake, Ben Street, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Povl Dissing, Steffen Brandt, Swan Lee, Tina Dickow, Peter Sommer, Mikael Simpson, Bent Jædig, Hugo Rasmussen, Pierre Dørge and many others....
CV - Søren Kjærgaard – page 1/2
Pianist, composer, arranger, ikscheltaschel rapper
Education
1985-1994 – Danish Public School 1st – 9th grade
1994-1997 – Math Student Graduate, Gymnasium
1994-1996 – MGK (talented music student program) Holstebro Music School
1997-2001 – Rhythmic Music Conservatorium (RMC), Copenhagen
2001-2002 – Soloist Diploma, RMC, granted for private studies in NYC, USA.
2000-2005 – Summer Sessions w. Kenny Barron, Joey Baron, Bobby Hutcherson, Herb Robertson, Egberto Gismonti, Airto Moeira, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Potter a.o.
Teaching Jobs, Union -and Board memberships
1996 – Member of KODA (Danish Composers Union)
1996-1997 – Piano Teacher at Holstebro Music School
2000 – Co-founder of KRAN (venue for contemporary music)
2002 – Member of DJBFA (jazz & beat composers union) and the Danish Artist Union
2002-2004 – Piano teacher at Rhythmic Center, København.
2003 – Board member of the recordlabel - ILK (
2004 – Staff professor w. John Tchicai at an impro project week at RMC
2004 – Leader of the RMC Orchestra, Ultraktement.
2005 – Staff professor at a Wagner project week at RMC
2005 – Musical Director, arranger and co-composer on the Hans Christian Andersen project “Andersens Drømme” (Album, Live & TV productions)
Grants & Awards
1998 – Prize winner in an international piano competition in Vilnius, Lithuania
1999 – 1st Prize in the national music competition of Berlingske Tidende
1999 – Touring grant from the Danish Jazz Federation.
2000 – Winner of the Young Comets (DK) w the own trio, Fuchsia
2000 – Winner of the Young Comets (Nordic) at Reykjavik Jazzfest w. Fuchsia
2001 – Travelling grants from, Grosserer L.F. Foght’s Foundation, the Odd Fellow Foundation, the National Bank of Denmark and the Knud Højgaard Foundation.
2002 – Composing grant from DJBFA
2003 – Composing grants from the State Arts Council, the Danish Mucians Union, KODA & DJBFA
2004 – Touring grant from the Danish Jazz Federation.
2004 – Winner of the National Radio Jazz Award (DR P2)
2004 – Ikscheltaschel is nominated for the National Radio Gold Award (DR P3)
2004 – Composing grant from the State Arts Council
2005 – Composing grants from the State Arts Council & DJBFA
CV - Søren Kjærgaard – page 2/2
5/3/78 Born in Lemvig on the west coast of Denmark.
90-94Appearances at local music festivals with school bands
1994Enters a music program for young talents (MGK) at Holstebro Music School.
1997Enters the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen
1998Invited on tour to Estonia w. a 4tet playing original SK compositions.
1999 Trio tour to Estonia. Prize winner in a solo piano competition in Vilnius, Lithuania.
2000 Winner of the Nordic jazz competition, Young Comets, w. the trio Fuchsia playing live at the Reykjavik Jazz Fest, Copenhagen Jazzhouse & on a DK tour. Co-arranger of a 60 day multi-art festival in Huset, Cop. Featured on the CD “Kresten Osgood & Hvad Er Klokken”.
2001Fuchsia live in Skt. Petersburg, Prag and DK tour w. former Lounge Lizzards tenorman,Michael Blake. Album release w. Ikscheltaschel (IKS). Fuchsia & IKS live at the Cop. & Malmö Jazzfest’s w. Peter Brötzman. Performance on national TV. Gigs in France w. Cai Boisen Moeller. Moves to NYC on a 1 yr conservatory diploma. Live at Tonic w. Tim Berne Accidental Tourist Band feat. Herb Robertson. Live w. Blake Tartare at Tonic & The Pyramid Club.
2002Blake Tartare live at The Knitting Factory feat. Stephen Bernstein & Dave Tronzo. Impro rec-sessions w. William Parker, Tony Malaby, Derek Bailey & Michael Blake. Live at Tonic w. Jim Black & Andrew D'Angelo. Live at the Cop Jazzfest, w. Pierre Dørge, Time Berne Accidental Tourist Band, Fuchsia & IKS. Italian tour w. Blake Tartare. 2 nights at Cop. Jazzhouse w. Fuchsia. Feature of the month at the Jazz Kartell, Cop.
2003Gigs in Paris & Toulouse w. Benjamin Koppel. National Radio live broadcast from Cop Jazzhouse & the Cop Jazzfestival w. own projects. IKS live at Roskilde Festival. Performance at the Jazz Grammy Awards. Live at the Cop Jazzfest w. Blake Tartare, Ben Street, Søren Kjærgaard Trio (SK3) & IKS. In NYC on a 3 week composing grant. Live at 55-bar & Tonic w. Michael Blake, Tony Scheer & Kenny Wollesen. DK tour w. Bandapart. Live 3 nights at the Cop Jazzhouse with SK3. Co-founder of the record label ILK.
2004Live w. Caroline Henderson on national TV & at Cop Jazzhouse. DK tours w. Nikolaj Nørlund, SK3, Jædig/Osgood 4tet, Celebrating Leo, IKS & Bandapart. Album release: "På Danske Læber" a tribute to Leaonard Cohen w. 20 of the biggest names in Danish rock/pop. Recieves the National Radio Jazz Award. IKS tour in Germany. Blake Tartare tour to NYC & Canada (Montreal & Vancouver Jazzfest’s). IKS signs w. VME releasing the album “Ikscheltaschel II”. The IKS-single, Putuni, is hit of the week on National Radio. Putuni musicvideo on Vocie & Boogie TV. “På Danske Læber” live at Store Vega, concert released on DVD. TV-performance w. Swan Lee at the Nordic Music Awards. Blake Tartare tour in Berlin & Italy. SK3 performs & records 3 nights at the Cop. Jazzhouse.
2005Performs, as a bottlesinger, at the national Carlsberg conference. Releases the 4tet album, “Bandapart”, and "Amfebia" & "Akustika" w SK3 (ILK). Musical director, arranger & co-composer on the album, "Andersens Drømme" w live TV performance at the Royal Rock Show, Cop. DK tours w Emil Dewaal+, IKS, Celebrating Leo, Jens Unmack, SK3 & Bandapart. Solo performances at the "Herr Von Eden" fashion shows in Berlin & Hamburg. SK3 in Berlin. TV performance with SK3. IKS double concert w De La Soul at Store Vega, Cop. IKS opens the Roskilde Festival on Orange Stage (National Radio & TV & MTV spots). Italian tour w. Blake Tartare. Live w. Nikolaj Nørlund 3 in the Tivoli Glass Hall. 2 month composing residence in Paris.