top of page

BIOGRAPHY

Jostein Gulbrandsen is a guitarist, composer, author and educator, originally from Norway, based in NYC since 2001. He has released three albums under his own name, "Twelve"(2007 Fresh Sound New Talent", “Release of Tension"(2011) and "Looking Ahead" (2018 Curling Legs records).He holds a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of music. His best-selling method book "Modern Jazz and Fusion Guitar" was released on the world’s  largest music  publishing company Hal/Leonard in December 2016.

Jostein Gulbrandsen has performed with his Quartet and trio at Rochester International Jazz Festival,  Trondheim Jazz Festival(Norway), Nordic Jazz Festival(Washington DC,) Faro International Guitar Festival (Portugal)l and Acoustic Landscapes Guitar festival. He has also performed at Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Birdland, Blue Note NYC, 55 Bar, Smalls, BB Kings Blues Bar, Hard Rock Cafe NYC, Scandinavia House/Victor Borge Hall, Blues Alley and The Kennedy Center. He has held master classes at Trondheim Jazz Festival and The Music Conservatory in Agder(Norway) in Faro(Portugal)and at Hobart and William Smith Colleges(USA).He is a featured artist for Collings Guitars,  Sadwosky Guitars, Godin Guitars, Quilter Labs Amplification, Eventide Effects and Curt Mangan Strings. In addition to being an accomplished jazz and fusion guitarist and composer, Gulbrandsen is fluent in many other musical styles including blues, country, rock, pop, funk and classical guitar.His book “Modern Jazz and Fusion Guitar” has been well received across the world and it was topping Amazon’s best seller list in the Jazz Songbook section right after its release in 2016.Gulbrandsen has been interviewed  and reviewed by several major newspapers and magazines in his native Norway, including Dagblade, Adresseavisen, Trønderavisa, Namdalsavisa and Musikkpraksis and also US publications such as Vintage Guitar Magazine, Jazz Times, Jazz Trail and All About jazz. His recent performances at the Rochester International Jazz festival and Trondheim Jazzfest(Norway), received great reviews. Gulbrandsen blends music from his native Norway with American Jazz. His slower compositions are melodic and open sounding and his more upbeat material draws from swinging hard bebop mixed with blues and fusion. His new trio features drum legend Adam Nussbaum and bassist David Ambrosio. Gulbrandsen recently recored in Houston, Texas with bassist/vocalist Anthony Caseres for his upcoming album that features drummer Joe Farnsworth.

bottom of page