Quick Facts
Virgo
Biography
Olga Konkova (born 25 August 1969 in Moscow, Russia) is a Norwegian–Russian jazz pianist known from several recordings and collaboration with jazz musicians such as Adam Nussbaum, Gary Husband and Karin Krog.
Career
Konkova was educated as classical pianist in Moscow, and later as jazz pianist at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she met her husband, the bassist Per Mathisen. After moving with him to Oslo in 1994, she collaborated with Inge Stangvik Quartet and the "Storeslem Big Band". In her own Olga Konkova Trio she collaborates with her husband on bass and various drummers (Adam Nussbaum/Stein Inge Brækhus/Gary Husband). She has also collaborated within "Sernet Å Fyre" and Norske Store Orkester. Konkova has also contributed to album releases and performances with artists like Finn Hauge, Magni Wentzel (Porty & Bess), Roy Nikolaisen (Roy's choice), Øystein Sunde ("Øystein Sunde... og vel så det", 2002) and Hans Mathisen (Quiet Songs).
Honors
- 2005: Spellemannprisen in the category Jazz, with Hans Mathisen, for the album Quiet Songs
- 2013: Gammleng-prisen in the category Jazz
Discography
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996? | Going with the Flow | Curling Legs | Trio, with Carl Morten Iversen, Audun Kleive |
| 1997 | Northern Crossings | Candid | With Ole Mathisen (soprano sax, tenor sax), Per Mathisen (bass), Jojo Mayer (drums) |
| 1997–98 | Her Point of View | Candid | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Per Mathisen (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums) |
| 1997–2001 | Some Things from Home | Candid | Trio, with Per Mathisen (bass), Jon Christensen and Adam Nussbaum (drums; separately) |
| 2006? | Unbound | Alessa | duo with Per Mathisen |
| 2009? | Improvisational Four | Caprice | Solo piano; improvisations inspired by Joni Mitchell |
| 2010? | My Voice | Losen | With Wenche Losnegård (vocals); most tracks trio with Per Hillestad (percussion, drums) added; one track quartet, with Knut Hem (effects) added; one track trio with Paolo Vinaccia (percussion) replacing Hillestad |
| 2011 | Return Journey | Losen | Solo piano |
| 2015 | The Goldilocks Zone | Losen | Trio, with Per Mathisen (bass), Gary Husband (drums, percussion) |
| 2016 | December Songs | Losen | Duo, with Jens Thoresen (guitar) |
| 2017 | Old Songs | Losen | Duo, with Jens Thoresen (guitar) |
Collaborations
- With Finn Hauge
- 1998: Close to My Heart (Hot Club Records), including with Terje Gewelt and Frank Jakobsen
- With Magni Wentzel
- 2000: Porgy and Bess (Hot Club Records), performing music by George Gershwin within sextet including Nils Jansen, Christian Jaksjø, Carl Morten Iversen and Espen Rud
- With Roy Nikolaisen
- 2003: Roy's choice (Gemini Music)
- With Hans Mathisen
- 2005: Quiet Songs (Curling Legs), awarded Spellemannprisen 2005
- 2011: Timeless Tales (Curling Legs), including with Per Mathisen and Andreas Bye
- With Helge Sunde and Ensemble Denada
- 2006: Denada (ACT Music), featuring Olga Konkova and Marilyn Mazur
- 2009: Finding Nymo (ACT Music).
- 2013: Windfall (Ocella Records)
