Valagascar Thomas Torstrup Quartet

• 1 Legende - part I (based on Op. 1, Fartein Valen) 05:45
• 2 Legende - part II (based on Op. 1, Fartein Valen) 07:50
• 3 Variations on Variations (based on Op. 23, Fartein Valen) 04:10
• 4 Valagascar 05:22
• 5 Watching Raindrops 05:09
• 6 Jenny’s Tune (Three Voices) 03:49
• 7 Remembering Waldstein 05:50
• Total Runtime 37:55

Info for Valagascar

“Valagascar” is the second album from Thomas Torstrup Quartet. The tunes on the album are a combination of new arrangements of the works of the Norwegian composer Fartein Valen (1887-1952) and new originals from Thomas Torstrup. This is probably the first jazz album recorded with arrangements of music from Fartein Valen.

Thomas Torstrup, piano
Simen Kiil Halvorsen, trumpet
Stian Andersen, bass
Ivar Asheim, drums

Recorded 24th and 25th of February, 2025 by Kyrre Laastad at Øra Studio, Trondheim, Norway
Mixed by Kyrre Laastad
Mastering by Karl Klaseie

Thomas Torstrup
is a Norwegian pianist, organist and composer from Stavanger. He attained a master’s degree after studying at NTNU in Trondheim. Torstrup has an impressive track of record both as a soloist and as sideman. In addition of being a great jazz pianist, he gives church concerts as an improvising organist, and is constantly searching to find alternative ways of playing and improvising on church organs. He released his first album as a composer in 2014, recorded by the sound legend Jan Erik Kongshaug in Rainbow Studio, together with Hanna Paulsberg, Trygve Fiske and Tore Sandbakken. The recent years he has released more albums as composer/pianist/organist, together with Heidi Skjerve and John Pål Inderberg/Martin Högberg. Torstrup is currently working at the University in Stavanger as an assistant professor. In 2021 he released his album “Two brothers” (with Thomas Torstrup Quartet) on NXN recordings.

This album contains no booklet.