Kristjan Randalu
Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu straddles the worlds of jazz and classical, with a modern creative sound inspired as much by composers like Erkki-Sven Tüür and Tõnu Kõrvits as by the greats of jazz piano.
Born in Tallinn in 1978 to parents who were both classical pianists, Randalu moved with his family to Germany at the age of nine, settling in Karlsruhe. Weaned on classical music, he discovered rock, pop, and jazz as a teenager. He attended the local music school before going on to study at the University of Music Stuttgart, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Manhattan School of Music. His first recorded appearance was in 2002 on Estonian singer Siiri Sisask's album Jälg. Randalu's own solo debut, Confidance, appeared in 2004 on Finetone; the following year he formed his first quartet for the album Tidbits. In 2006, he was nominated for a Grammy for his work on the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra & Big Band's full-length Elevation. He followed with the albums Desde Manhattan (2009); Enter Denter, with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra (2010); and Equilibrium, a duo effort with American guitarist Ben Monder on Fresh Sound New Talent (2012).
After 20 years of living abroad, Randalu moved back to Estonia, where he settled with his partner, dividing his time between Tallinn and an isolated country house in the woods. In addition to his own solo work, he appeared as a sideman on numerous albums by the likes of Dhafer Youssef, Matteo Sabattini, and Hedvig Hanson, and performed with many big names in jazz, such as Dave Liebman, Ari Hoenig, Eivind Aarset, Mark Guiliana, Nils Petter Molvær, and Nguyên Lê. His ECM debut, Absence, released in 2018, once again featured Monder, along with Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari. Irrationalities arrived in 2019 and featured Randalu's trio with bassist Petros Klampanis and drummer Bodek Janke.
© John D. Buchanan /TiVo
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Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Absence
Kristjan Randalu, Ben Monder, Markku Ounaskari
Jazz - Released by ECM on 6 Apr 2018
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
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Absence
Kristjan Randalu, Ben Monder, Markku Ounaskari
Jazz - Released by ECM Records on 6 Apr 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann/Randalu: Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
Classical - Released by Berlin Classics on 22 Mar 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sisu
Kristjan Randalu, New Wind Jazz Orchestra
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Whirlwind Recordings on 30 Sep 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Equilibrium
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 1 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sunland
Kristjan Randalu, Lukas Traxel, Olivier Le Goas
Jazz - Released by Double Moon Records on 22 Mar 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
RANDALU, Kristjan: Confidance (Kristjan Randalu)
Jazz - Released by Finetone on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lünk
Kristjan Randalu, New Wind Jazz Orchestra
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Whirlwind Recordings on 19 Aug 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mouse-Hunt
Kristjan Randalu, New Wind Jazz Orchestra
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Whirlwind Recordings on 29 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spielchen und Rechenschaft
Kristjan Randalu, New Wind Jazz Orchestra
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Whirlwind Recordings on 9 Sep 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Adaption II
Kristjan Randalu, Ben Monder, Markku Ounaskari
Jazz - Released by ECM Records on 9 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Surface
Olivier Le Goas, Kristjan Randalu, Lukas Traxel
Jazz - Released by Double Moon Records on 8 Mar 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
MSNYQ - Dawning
Matteo Sabattini, Mike Moreno, Kristjan Randalu, Matt Clohesy, Obed Calvaire, Lage Lund
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 19 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Enter Denter
Kristjan Randalu, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Estonian Record Productions on 1 Oct 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beat!Beat!Drums
Julia Karosi, Kristjan Randalu
Jazz - Released by XJAZZ! Music on 26 Apr 2024
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo