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Frode Kjekstad was born in Lier, Norway, 23. November 1974. He was already captured by the music of Charlie Parker and Joe Pass when he picked up the guitar at the age of 14, and the year after he started studying with Swedish jazzguitarist Staffan William-Olsson.
He moved to Oslo in 1994. Studying music at the University, teacher and trumpeter Torgrim Sollid introduced him to New York-guitarist Randy Johnston. This meeting was a great inspiration, leading to lessons as well as a great friendship. The two guitarplayers are now having a quartet together, working occasionally around Scandinavia.
Playing regularly for 4 years with Sandvika Bigband, considered Norway's best band in it's genre, Frode has had the opportunity to work with international jazz stars as Diane Shuur, Frank Foster, Johnny Griffin, Don Menza, Rob McConnel, Jim Morrison, Mark Nightingale, Claire Martin, Deborah Brown, Uffe Johanson and many others. Frode has also played with a number of american players in Norway in other settings, among those Gerald Willson!
In 1999 he had the great opportunity of joining scandinavian jazz-organ king Paul Wagnberg's trio, this being Frodes main occupation since.
In 2002 he received great rewiews in USA and Italy for his bootleg CD "Presenting Frode Kjekstad". In 2004 Frode released his new CD "New York Time", featuring Dr.Lonnie Smith, Eric Alexander and Byron Landham.
A CD with featuring Frode´s compositions and arrangementes will be released the autumn 2005, a production done by "Sandvika Bigband".
Working as a freelance jazzguitarist at cafés, in bigbands, trad-bands, and be-bop combos from 1990, Frode also started teaching jazzguitar in 1992.
He is currently teaching at 5 different institutions, including the university of Oslo.
Working steadily to establish himself in the jazzguitar tradition stated by Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis and Kenny Burrel, Frode is one of the few, young players in this style in Scandinavia. |
